Prince and the Pauper - World Literature Library

Author: Mark Twain
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-06-01
Features: On a certain autumn day in the mid-16th century, two boys were born in England. One was born into a poor family named Canty, living in a small alley called Garbage Yard near London Bridge, while the other was born into a wealthy Tudor family. Young Tom Canty was unpopular and did not receive love from his parents. His rough and violent father often forced him to engage in petty theft. To forget all this, he often daydreamed, with the and Prince Edward being his fantasy themes. One day, nine-year-old Tom came to the gates of the palace and saw Prince Edward, who also saw him and invited him inside to play. Tom, happy as a lark, entered the palace and described the free life outside the palace walls, which made the prince wish to swap clothes with him. From this decision, the prince began his life-and-death adventures. Under the coercion of his "father," John Canty, he became a member of a theft ring. He endured the ridicule, mockery, and humiliation suffered by all the oppressed and despised lower classes in England. He never forgot his royal identity, the dignity of the monarchy, and the family's hope for him to become the King of England. Due to the friendship and care of Miles Hendon, he vowed to make Hendon a knight. Hendon decided to take in the boy, believing he was mentally unstable. In the palace, Tom Canty, dressed in the prince's fine clothes, was also considered mad. Thus, the royal family spared no effort to keep the entire nation from learning the truth. His ailing father, King Henry VIII, said that if he rested more and was properly cared for, the young prince might regain his senses. But whether he was mad or not, he had to be king. The Prince and the Pauper has been beloved by both adults and children since its publication in 1880. Children focus only on the appreciation of the storyline, overlooking Mark Twain's critique of poverty and slavery; adults, beyond the strange plot, perceive deeper meanings and thus enjoy the book. Walt Disney adapted the book into a film, making it one of the most beloved films for children. The film, much like Mark Twain's work upon its release, deeply captivated Americans. In America, anything can happen, so it is not absurd for a poor orphan to ascend the throne.