How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Within was a comely boy, tanned and brown with sturdy outdoor sports and exercises, whose clothing was all of lovely silks and satins, shining with jewels; at his hip a little jeweled sword and dagger […] (3.4)
What does this description of Prince Edward tell you? It tells you that he's rich enough to have leisure time and exercise, he can wear fancy fabrics because he doesn't have to work, and he can afford to have someone teach him to use a sword. Clothes may not reveal who a person is deep down, but they can sometimes reveal things about a person's social status.
Quote #2
"Oho, wouldst like it? Then so shall it be. Doff thy rags, and don these splendors, lad! It is a brief happiness, but will be not less keen for that. We will have it while we may, and change again before any come to molest." (3.59)
This is where Edward and Tom swap clothes. But that's not all they're doing: by changing their appearances, they're also swapping positions in life. Why is that so easy to do? What does this tell us about the validity of judging people based on their appearances?
Quote #3
A few minutes later the little Prince of Wales was garlanded with Tom's fluttering odds and ends, and the little prince of Pauperdom was tricked out in the gaudy plumage of royalty. (3.60)
Why do you think the narrator calls Tom the prince of Pauperdom? Does it mean that he is sort of stand-in for all paupers everywhere? Or does it mean that because he's somewhat educated and has a lot of dreams, he's already different from the other paupers? Or does it mean something else entirely?
Quote #4
Six gorgeous gentlemen-servants and two young pages of high degree, clothed like butterflies, sprung to their feet, and bowed low before him. (5.2)
Notice that even the servants are better dressed than Tom ever was. Would this story have turned out differently for Tom if he had switched places with a palace servant?
Quote #5
Somewhat after one in the afternoon, Tom resignedly underwent the ordeal of being dressed for dinner. He found himself as finely clothed as before, but everything different, everything changed, from his ruff to his stockings. (7.1)
This may not seem like a big deal, but earlier Tom mentioned that his family never undresses, because they only have one outfit to wear each. Now he gets dressed in fancy outfits every day, and each time, it's a different outfit.
Quote #6
Now came twelve French gentlemen, in splendid habiliments, consisting of pourpoints of white damask barred with gold, short mantles of crimson velvet lined with violet taffeta, and carnation-colored hauts-de-chausses, and took their way down the steps. (9.4)
There are tons of scenes like this in The Prince and the Pauper, with the narrator telling us all about everything everyone is wearing. Why do you think the narrator focuses on the way people are dressed so much? Does it tell us anything important?
Quote #7
He was tall, trim-built, muscular. His doublet and trunks were of rich material, but faded and threadbare, and their gold-lace adornments were sadly tarnished; his ruff was rumpled and damaged; the plume in his slouched hat was broken and had a bedraggled and disreputable look; at his side he wore a long rapier in a rusty iron sheath; his swaggering carriage marked him at once as a ruffler of the camp. (11.11)
Who else could this be but Sir Miles Hendon? We love this guy, but he seriously needs some new clothes. Like a pauper, it looks like Miles may only have one set of clothes—even if they used to be fancy. What do his clothes tell you about him?
Quote #8
"Welcome! Many have sought sanctuary here, but they were not worthy, and were turned away. But a king who casts his crown away, and despises the vain splendors of his office, and clothes his body in rags, to devote his life to holiness and the mortification of the flesh—he is worthy, he is welcome!—here shall he abide all his days till death come." (20.11)
Prince Edward's clothes lead to another case of mistaken identity. Only this time, the crazy hermit actually believes he's the king. Unfortunately, he doesn't look like the king—otherwise, he might actually convince people.
Quote #9
The matter standeth simply thus: she must have known my face, my figure, my voice, for how could it be otherwise? Yet she said she knew me not, and that is proof perfect, for she cannot lie. (26.14)
Here, Miles Hendon is talking about Lady Edith and how she denied him. Even though his clothes were very different, she seems to have recognized him, much in the way Tom's mom recognizes him even though he's dressed up like a king. How? Why?
Quote #10
The mock king did mechanically as he had been bidden. His smile had no heart in it, but few eyes were near enough or sharp enough to detect that. (31.23)
Poor Tom: he just wasn't cut out for this king stuff. But even though he's only pretending, everyone seems to be convinced by his ruse. What do you think is the connection between appearance and reality in this novel?