The Prince and the Pauper Theme of Justice and Judgment

Everyone knows that justice is good and injustice is bad. That's why we love superheroes like Batman who wipe out injustice wherever they see it. But what if you knew that you and your family were the reason that injustice exists in the first place? In The Prince and the Pauper, Prince Edward is constantly bombarded with the injustice created by his own father. It takes him a while to recognize it, but eventually, he come to terms with the reality of injustice and changes his ways so that he will not continue the cycle his father started.

Questions About Justice and Judgment

  1. Why do you think Mark Twain focuses so much on injustice in The Prince and the Pauper?
  2. How does the justice of the last two chapters affect the way we feel about the injustice we read about in the rest of The Prince and the Pauper?
  3. Who is mainly affected King Henry VIII's unjust laws in The Prince and the Pauper? Who is not affected? Why do you think this is?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

According to The Prince and the Pauper, the reign of King Henry VIII was a highly unjust one.

According to The Prince and the Pauper, it is only possible for a king to be just if he has experienced suffering.