How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
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. (5.63)
Most kids would kill to be the prince. So why does Tom feel like a captive? Why does he describe the palace as a "gilded cage," and why does he focus on being "friendless"?
Quote #2
Next the tired captive sat down and was going to take off his buskins, timidly asking leave with his eye, but another silk-and-velvet discomforter went down upon his knees and took the office from him. He made two or three further efforts to help himself, but being promptly forestalled each time, he finally gave up, with a sigh of resignation and a murmured "Beshrew me, but I marvel they do not require to breathe for me also!" (5.42)
This is the first time that Tom is being prepared for bed, and he hates it. But by the end of the novel, he's pretty used to the whole ceremony. How do you think this attitude has changed so quickly?
Quote #3
My Lord d'Arcy, First Groom of the Chamber, was there, to do goodness knows what; but there he was—let that suffice. The Lord Chief Butler was there, and stood behind Tom's chair, overseeing the solemnities, under command of the Lord Great Steward and the Lord Head Cook, who stood near. Tom had three hundred and eighty-four servants besides these; but they were not all in that room, of course, nor the quarter of them, neither was Tom aware yet that they existed. (7.2)
That's what it means to be rich: to have so many servants that you don't even know some of them exist. Human life starts to feel a little cheap in this situation—maybe that's why King Henry VIII had such little trouble sending 70,000 people to their deaths.
Quote #4
To Tom Canty, half buried in his silken cushions, these sounds and this spectacle were a wonder unspeakably sublime and astonishing. To his little friends at his side, the princess Elizabeth and the Lady Jane Grey, they were nothing. (11.2)
Isn't it amazing how you can get accustomed to almost anything? How do you think Princess Elizabeth and Lady Jane Grey would react to living in Tom's home? Probably not very well. One thing is certain, though: being constantly exposed to riches totally makes you take them for granted.
Quote #5
He murmured drowsily: "Prithee call me when the table is spread," and sunk into a deep sleep immediately. (12.17)
In this scene, Edward is taking over Miles Hendon's apartment. Even though he no longer has a fleet of servants to take care of him, Edward still treats this complete stranger as if he was born to serve him. We guess when you're the king, everyone else is a servant.
Quote #6
"Body of my life, a tag gone from a truss point! —to the Tower with the Head Keeper of the king's Hose!"—after which he leaned upon the shoulder of the First Lord of the Buckhounds to regather his vanished strength while fresh hose, without any damaged strings to them, were brought. (14.18)
Okay, now things are just starting to get ridiculous. Sent to the Tower for some ripped stockings? Everyone knows you can fix a run with some nail polish. In this world, a person's life is less valuable than one pair of the king's stockings.
Quote #7
The dull work went tediously on. Petitions were read, and proclamations, patents, and all manner of wordy, repetitious, and wearisome papers relating to the public business; and at last Tom sighed pathetically and murmured to himself, "In what have I offended, that the good God should take me away from the fields and the free air and the sunshine, to shut me up here and make me a king and afflict me so?" (14.35)
Tom seems pretty upset to be prince at this point. What are the positive parts of his life of poverty that he may be remembering? Why are they missing now that he's the prince?
Quote #8
The larger part of his day was "wasted"—as he termed it, in his own mind—in labors pertaining to his royal office. Even the two hours devoted to certain princely pastimes and recreations were rather a burden to him than otherwise, they were so fettered by restrictions and ceremonious observances. However, he had a private hour with his whipping-boy which he counted clear gain, since he got both entertainment and needful information out of it. (15.2)
Why does Tom feel that his day was wasted? It says that even the recreational time he gets is not so fun. Does Edward ever talk about being bored as the prince? Or is it just Tom? If it's just Tom, why do you think that is?
Quote #9
"In truth, being a king is not all dreariness—it hath its compensations and conveniences." (15.11)
This scene happens when Tom sees a ruckus outside of his window and commands that some people condemned to death be brought to him. It turns out that being rich isn't all lame: sometimes you get to boss people around, too. More importantly, though: Tom decides at this point to use his power for good. Tom kind of paves the way for Edward: it's only because Tom is so good that Edward is able to successfully get his throne back and rule in a new way.
Quote #10
Whereupon he rearranged his bed, spreading it down close to the calf; then he cuddled himself up to the calf's back, drew the covers up over himself and his friend, and in a minute or two was as warm and comfortable as he had ever been in the downy couches of the regal palace of Westminster. (18.40)
It seems like the prince has discovered a different type of wealth in this run-down farm. What is it, and why is it different from having lots of money? Why does it make him as comfortable as he had ever been in Westminster?