The Prince and the Pauper

“[A] boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him. On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him.”

In the first chapter, the births of Tom Canty and Edward Tudor are placed in direct opposition to each other. The divergent circumstances of the two boys provide an early example of the stark divide between the social classes that the book will explore.

“The house which Tom’s father lived in was up a foul little pocket called Offal Court, out of Pudding Lane. It was small, decayed, and rickety, but it was packed full of wretchedly poor families.”

This description of Offal Court provides insight into the dire conditions of the poor in London. With Offal Court as the basis, the grandeur of royal buildings that will later be seen shows how unfair the divide is between rich and poor in London.

“And still his desire to look just once upon a real prince, in the flesh, grew upon him, day by day, and week by week, until at last it absorbed all other desires, and became the one passion of his life.”

Tom’s desire to see a prince is the cause of the story’s inciting incident. His strong imagination and the effect it has on him is shown here and will continue to appear throughout the novel.