Theme: Appearance and Reality in Prince and the Pauper.
 The characters in the story care more about appearance than who
they really are.
o Ex: Tom says “if only the boys in Offal Court can see me.” (while
he was wearing the prince’s clothes.)
o Even though Tom is a pauper, if he went to Offal court in the
Prince’s clothes, he would be respected.
o “clothes make the man”
o Hertford: He had to “believe his eyes” that Tom wasn’t really
the prince. Even though he knew the prince ever since he was a
baby, he needed proof through the clothes.
Compare and Contrast
Tom

Poor

Nervous

Honest
Friendly
Timid
Forgiving to the
people of the court
 Clever
 Confidence






Edward
Loyal
Kind
powerful
/respect
ed/ royal
with
certain
clothes
on
 Rich
 Demanding/bossy
 Ignorant of the
life of a pauper
 He couldn’t adapt
to the ways of a
pauper
 Adventurous