# Tom as a Patrician explained — The Prince and the Pauper

> Chapter companion for The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain.

## What happens

Tom Canty, alone in the prince's cabinet, admires his new finery but grows anxious as the prince does not return. He fears being caught and executed. When Lady Jane Grey enters, he reveals his true identity, causing her to flee in horror. Rumors spread that the prince has gone mad. Tom is brought before King Henry VIII, who tries to comfort him, but Tom insists he is a pauper and begs to be released. The king, distressed, tests Tom's Latin and finds his responses lacking.

## Themes in this chapter

### Identity and Appearance

Tom struggles with his new identity as a prince, while his true self as a pauper is dismissed as madness by the court.

### Illusion vs. Reality

Tom's dream of being a prince becomes a terrifying reality, as he is trapped in a gilded cage and unable to convince others of his true identity.

### Power and Corruption

The absolute power of the king and court is shown through Tom's fear of execution and the swift suppression of rumors about the prince's madness.

### Compassion and Empathy

King Henry VIII shows tenderness toward Tom, mistaking his fear for illness, but his compassion is limited by his inability to see the truth.

## Character check-ins

### Tom Canty

Alone in the prince's cabinet, Tom admires his finery but grows fearful and lonely. He reveals his true identity to Lady Jane Grey, then is brought before King Henry VIII, where he pleads to be released.

### Edward VI

Mentioned as the prince who has left Tom alone; his absence causes Tom's distress.

### Henry VIII

The ailing king confronts Tom, believing him to be his son Edward. He tries to comfort Tom and tests his Latin, showing growing distress at Tom's apparent madness.

### Bet

Appears as the Lady Jane Grey, who enters the cabinet and is horrified when Tom kneels and reveals his pauper identity.

### Lord Hertford

Mentioned as the uncle who accompanies Tom after the audience with the king.

### Duke of Norfolk

Tom recalls the severed head of the Duke of Norfolk, which haunts his thoughts as a symbol of the danger he faces.

## Key lines

> He turned himself this way and that before the great mirror, admiring his finery; then walked away, imitating the prince's high-bred carriage, and still observing results in the glass.

Tom admired his reflection in the mirror, practicing the prince's noble walk.

_Tom's initial delight in his new appearance and role-playing._

> Suppose some one should come, and catch him in the prince's clothes, and the prince not there to explain. Might they not hang him at once, and inquire into his case afterward?

Tom feared being caught in the prince's clothes without the prince to explain, and thought he might be executed immediately.

_Tom's growing fear of the consequences of his situation._

> The whisper—for it was whispered always—flew from menial to menial, from lord to lady, down all the long corridors, from story to story, from saloon to saloon, 'The prince hath gone mad, the prince hath gone mad!'

A rumor spread through the palace that the prince had gone mad.

_The rapid spread of the rumor about Tom's behavior._

> Tom dropped upon his knees with a glad cry— 'God requite thy mercy, O my king, and save thee long to bless thy land!'

Tom knelt joyfully, thanking the king for sparing his life.

_Tom's relief when the king says he will not die._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters/v-tom-as-a-patrician
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_and_the_pauper_se/chapters