How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He only begged just enough to save himself, for the laws against mendicancy were stringent, and the penalties heavy; so he put in a good deal of his time listening to good Father Andrew's charming old tales and legends about giants and fairies, dwarfs, and genii, and enchanted castles, and gorgeous kings and princes. His head grew to be full of these wonderful things, and many a night as he lay in the dark on his scant and offensive straw, tired, hungry, smarting from a thrashing, he unleashed his imagination and soon forgot his aches and pains in delicious picturings to himself of the charmed life of a petted prince in a regal palace. (2.5)
It's no surprise that Tom dreams of fairy tales instead of thinking about his real life problems. We would too, if we were Tom. These fairy tales, however, actually do prepare him to pass himself off as the king. What is it about stories, storytelling, and imagination that actually helps get Tom out of pauperdom?
Quote #2
Privately, after a while, Tom organized a royal court! He was the prince; his special comrades were guards, chamberlains, equerries, lords and ladies in waiting, and the royal family. Daily the mock prince was received with elaborate ceremonials borrowed by Tom from his romantic readings; daily the great affairs of the mimic kingdom were discussed in the royal council, and daily his mimic highness issued decrees to his imaginary armies, navies, and viceroyalties. (2.9)
What is the difference between Tom's royal court and the "real" royal court? Is it just money? Respect? Reputation? Is there much of a difference? Maybe Henry VIII's court is just as imaginary as Tom's, in a way: Henry VIII may have power, but there doesn't seem to be anything all that different about him that makes him somehow better than everyone else.
Quote #3
His spirits sank lower and lower as he moved between the glittering files of bowing courtiers; for he recognized that he was indeed a captive now, and might remain forever shut up in this gilded cage, a forlorn and friendless prince, except God in His mercy take pity on him and set him free […]
His old dreams had been so pleasant; but this reality was so dreary! (5.63)
We hate to say it, but be careful what you wish for. It turns out that Tom's fairy-tale prince life was just as fictional as his dreams of dragons. Being a prince for real is kind of hard work, and it's actually pretty boring.
Quote #4
"Yes, sire," Miles replied; then observed to himself, "If I must humor the poor lad's madness, I must sire him, I must majesty him, I must not go by halves, I must stick at nothing that belongeth to the part I play, else shall I play it ill and work evil to this charitable and kindly cause." (12.41)
Why do you think Miles is the only person who plays along with Edward? If he doesn't believe the prince, why indulge him? Why doesn't he believe him in the first place? Does he just have a great imagination? Why does having a great imagination help characters like Miles and Tom?
Quote #5
But a sorrowful thought swept it instantly away; he was only a king in name, these grave veterans and great nobles were his masters; to them his mother was only the creature of a diseased mind; they would simply listen to his project with unbelieving ears, then send for the doctor. (14.34)
Tom thinks that he's just a king in name, but how would that be different if he were the "real" king? Even the historical King Edward was mostly a mouthpiece for other nobles. So is one kind of king actually more real than the other?
Quote #6
His concern made him even forget, for the moment, that he was but the false shadow of a king, not the substance; and before he knew it he had blurted out the command: "Bring them here!" (15.15)
Fake or not, Tom sure gives out commands like a king. He's certainly learned how to play the role well—which makes us wonder whether kingliness is mostly about role-playing and not that much about some innate kingly qualities.
Quote #7
The king entered, and paused. The hermit turned a pair of gleaming, unrestful eyes upon him, and said:
"Who art thou?"
"I am the king," came the answer, with placid simplicity.
"Welcome, king!" cried the hermit, with enthusiasm. (20.11)
Did you notice that the only people who believe Edward are this crazy hermit and two little girls? Why do you think children and madmen are the only ones who believe him? Do they somehow have a clearer view of reality than others do? Why might that be? Do appearances mean something different to them than to the people immediately involved?
Quote #8
"I see none here but paltry knaves, scum o' the streets. Which is he?"
The jailer laughed.
"Here," he said; "scan this big animal, and grant me an opinion."
The old man approached, and looked Hendon over, long and earnestly, then shook his head and said:
"Marry, this is no Hendon—nor ever was!" (27.6)
We don't know about you, but we kind of doubted Miles's authenticity at this point. Did you believe him? Why or why not?
Quote #9
"Now am I finely tinseled, indeed! The specter-knight of the kingdom of Dreams and Shadows is become a specter-earl!—a dizzy flight for a callow wing! An this go on, I shall presently be hung like a very Maypole with fantastic gauds and make-believe honors. But I shall value them, all valueless as they are, for the love that doth bestow them. Better these poor mock dignities of mine, that come unasked from a clean hand and a right spirit, than real ones bought by servility from grudging and interested power." (28.14)
Miles prefers "fake" honors that come unasked from a good person to "real" honors gained from a corrupt person by means of flattery and brownnosing. It seems like Miles doesn't even see these second kinds of honors as real at all, since they're based on artificiality and hypocrisy.
Quote #10
"Lo, the lord of the kingdom of Dreams and Shadows on his throne! "He muttered some broken sentences, still gazing and marveling; then turned his eyes around and about, scanning the gorgeous throng and the splendid saloon, murmuring, "But these are real—verily these are real- surely it is not a dream."
He stared at the king again—and thought, "Is it a dream?... or is he the veritable sovereign of England, and not the friendless Poor Tom o' Bedlam I took him for—who shall solve me this riddle?" (33.33)
Poor Miles. Now he knows exactly how we felt throughout the whole novel. What's real, and what's not? Who knows? Just think of all the ways the boundary between reality and fiction has been crossed throughout the novel.