Mark Twain & His Top Three Books ISSUE 1 APRIL 2019

The Legend of Mark Twain & His Top Three Books ISSUE 1 APRIL 2019

LIT. HISTORY ISSUE 1 APRIL 2019 1 Mark Twain’s Biography Let’s peak how this remarable man came to be the famous we all know today. Let’s also look at what famous people he knew that did not know about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Interpretation 3 Let’s explore the story of the mischevious little boy who craved fun and adventure

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Interpretation Let’s explore the sequal of The Adventures of Tom 6 Sawyer and learn more more his best friend, Huck.

The Prince and the Pauper Interpretation Let’s explore how the the grass is not greener on the 10 other side. These two identical boys learn important lesson in that in this famous story.

Other Writer’s Perspective’s of the Three books discussed Every person has their own opinion and thoughts of 14 they interpreted these three books. Let’s read them.

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Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), the latter often called “The Great American Novel”.

Twain was raised in Hannibal, Missouri, which later provided the set- ting for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He served an appren- ticeship with a printer and then worked as a typesetter, contributing articles to the newspaper of his older brother Orion Clemens. He later became a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River before heading west to join Orion in Nevada. He referred humorously to his lack of success at mining, turning to journalism for the Virginia City Territo- rial Enterprise. His humorous story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”, was published in 1865, based on a story that he heard at Angels Hotel in Angels Camp, California, where he had spent some time as a miner. The short story brought international attention and was even translated into French. His wit and satire, in prose and in speech, earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty.

Twain earned a great deal of money from his writings and lec- tures, but he invested in ventures that lost most of it—such as the Paige Compositor, a mechanical typesetter that failed because of its complexity and imprecision. He filed for bankruptcy in the wake of these financial setbacks, but he eventually over- came his financial troubles with the help of Henry Huttleston Rogers. He chose to pay all his pre-bankruptcy creditors in. full, even after he had no legal responsibility to do so. Twain was born shortly after an appearance of Halley’s Comet, and he predicted that he would “go out with it” as well; he died the day after the comet returned. He was lauded as the “greatest humorist this country has produced”, and William Faulkner called him “the father of American literature”

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain

“Mark Twain.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain. 1 Mark Twain, the father of American Literature, captured the lime- light of his age in a way that no writer has since. The stories that surround him are the stuff of myths and legends. His influence as America’s greatest “funnyman” has lasted for over a century. Twain’s relationships are just as interesting as Twain himself. From presidents to inventors, Twain brushed shoulders with many of history’s giants. Today, we explore some of Twain’s many famous friendships.

Friend of the Stowes and Nikola Tesla

One of Mark Twain’s good friends and neighbors was Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In fact, Harriet’s brother, Thomas Beecher, performed the ceremony at Twain’s wed- ding. Her other brother helped Twain to negotiate publishing terms. Twain was interested in the reaction to Stowe’s book and hoped that he could replicate the success with The Innocents Abroad. Twain would later come to defend Stowe during the Byron Scandal.

Twain was also good friends with the inventor and visionary Nikola Tesla. Tesla had admired Twain’s work for a long time, crediting it with saving him from depression while he was bedridden. Twain and Tesla met sometime in the 1890s and remained friends until Twain’s death in 1910.

Championing Helen Keller helen_kellerOne of the people who left the most lasting impression on Twain was Helen Keller. Twain and his friend and editor, Wil- liam Dean Howells, met Keller when she was fourteen. He wrote Mark Twain with Helen Keller that, “She is fellow to Caesar, Alexander...Homer, Shakespeare, and the rest of the immortals. She will be as famous a thousand years “He Treated Me Not as a Freak, But as a Person Dealing with Great from now as she is today.” Twain was interested in Keller’s uncanny Difficulties”. ability to “see into things,” as opposed to most people who had the president. Twain was one of the few individuals who could make gift of sight but could only stare at the world around them. He went Grant break his rigid character and laugh. After his term in office, so far as to secure funding for her higher education. Grant ran into financial troubles. Ferdinand Ward, one of the greatest swindlers in American history, was one of Grant’s colleagues. Keller, who had financial difficulties, passed the entrance exam for He had developed a Ponzi scheme and invested Grant’s money in Radcliffe College. Twain wrote to the wife of the Standard Oil mag- it. When the scheme collapsed Grant lost everything. In order to nate Henry Rogers. Twain asked for the other chiefs of Standard recuperate his losses Grant began writing his memoirs as well as Oil to come together and sponsor Keller’s education. Instead, Hen- publishing articles; however, Grant did not have much confidence ry Rogers decided he would personally pay for all of Helen Keller’s in his writing. It was around this time that Grant was also diagnosed college. It wasn’t the last time Twain would come to Keller’s rescue. with throat cancer. Dying and broke, Grant’s family would have been left in ruin if not for Twain. One of Helen Keller’s “friends” tried to involve her in a scheme that Keller wanted no part of. The friend tried to convince Keller Twain overheard the editor of Century magazine talking about the to leave college and start a school for afflicted children. The friend articles Grant had been writing. When Twain heard that Grant was would gather the finances for the school. Keller’s friend also insisted paid $500 for each article he was stunned. Twain considered it a that the institution they would found embodied the will of God. massive insult to the former president. Twain went to Grant and Twain filled in for Mr. Rogers at the meeting where the friend looked at the contract that had been drawn up for his memoirs. The hoped to secure funds for the endeavor. Twain rebuked the friend deal offered Grant 10% of the royalty and half the profits of the saying, “ I couldn’t help wondering how she got every detail of book. Twain told Grant that the deal was absurd and offered him a the divine idea right when there were no written instructions.” The much better contract through his own publishing house. Eventually dispute ended there. Grant agreed to Twain’s offer, although he was reluctant to take an advance because he was scared Twain would lose out on the deal. Sticking Up for Ulysses S. Grant Five days after finishing his memoirs Grant succumbed to throat cancer. His memoirs became an instant bestseller and at 75% net Ulysses_s_grantTwain wasn’t just Helen Keller’s champion. Twain royalties, made his family around $450,000, firmly reestablishing the also saved U.S President and General Ulysses S. Grant from fi- fortune they had lost. nancial ruin. Grant and Twain first met when the former was still

Pappas, Stephen. “Famous Friendships of Legendary Author Mark Twain.” Our Blog, blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/famous-friendships-of-legend- 2 ary-author-mark-twain. Interpretation

3 Out of all the best books Mark Twain wrote, The crime. But Tom’s speaking out for Muff Potter didn’t go well with Adventures of Tom Sawyer is one of the best of his books. The his friend, Huck Finn. Adventures of Tom Sawyer tells about the story of a mischievous Huckleberry “Huck” Finn is another twelve-year-old boy twelve-year-old boy named Tom Sawyer, who is a fun loving, who is lives on the streets and is homeless. What makes Huck a prankster, and schemer. Throughout the story, Tom Sawyer gets bad guy is by choice and desire to have no parent guidance over involved with a variety adventures such as forming societies, him. According to the book, he doesn’t go to school and is not very pretending to be pirates, attend their own funeral, and especially social like Tom is. All he wants is to be free, no matter what. For solving a murder. In addition to the story, Tom spends most of his example, in the end of the story, Huck ran away from the home time with Huckleberry Finn, who is a street and homeless boy and where he got adopted and Tom tracked him and talked some senses Tom’s partner in crime. into him. Huck also makes his own rules and decides what is right The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is one of best books by for him. An example of this how Huck reacted to Tom speaking for Mark Twain because it brings adults together reflect on their child- Muff Potter’s defense after they both swore to keep silence. Despite hood, it has a good guy versus bad guy theme going on and serves all this, Huck does a have caring side about his villagers’ wellbeing. as a reminder that humans are not perfect. For example, when he overheard Injun Joe threatening to murder One of the reasons Mark Twain wrote The Adventures Widow Douglass, Huck ran to a neighbor’s house and begged them of Tom Sawyer was to entertain boys and girls and hoped that for help and help the Widow Douglass. In addition, Huck does adults would read and like it too and to recall their own childhood. show signs of caring to his friends, mainly Tom Sawyer and friends However, every generation of adults have their own experience from Tom. of what they would do as a child, especially in the future. In the book, readers from the far in future what can see what children did during this time period and how it it’s different from children do right now. Based on Twain’s childhood experience, children would According to Shmoop.com, in regard to Mark Twain’s childhood: get into mischief, look for treasure, solve a crime, fall in love, run away from and then come back. Twain describes in details on what “Like Huck and Tom, young Samuel spent his days running life was like for him as a child and this is almost exactly happened around with a group of other local boys, engaging in all sorts of to him or other people he knew. Alongside learning about Mark Twain’s previous childhood, the readers can see a good guy verses bad guy thing going on. It’s clear that Tom Sawyer and his friend, Huckleberry Finn, are clearly the good guys and the criminal, Injun Joe, is the bad guy. According to Course Hero, Injun Joe is a representation of Mark Twain’s prejudice towards Native Americans at the time which the book was written. Besides Injun Joe, Tom and Huck could also be interpreted as bad guys in their own way too. Tom Sawyer is a mischievous twelve-year-old boy who always gets in trouble, either from his legal guardian Aunt Polly, or school teacher. What makes Tom a bad guy in the novel is that he can manipulative whenever he wants to. For example, he was punished by his aunt and had to white wash a long wooden fence. Just to get out of work, Tom tricked other kids into doing white- washing the fence for him. Another example is Tom manipulated Huck into getting adopted by an adult so Huck can join his “gang” he wants to start up. In addition, Tom is very greedy for adventure and he’ll anything to get it. For example, he ran away to an island once with Huck Finn and a boy named Joe Harper and pretend- ed to be pirates there and then showed up at his funeral after he, Huck, and Joe were believed to be dead. He also often sneaks out of the house and just to meet with Huck and other friends. He likes to dig holes in various places just to dig for treasure. On the other hand, Tom does have good qualities, morals and can make responsible decisions. One example is that after he formed a relationship with his love interest, a local village girl named Becky Thatcher, he stood by her side when they got lost in a cave until they got out. Also what makes Tom a good character is that Tom spoke out for Muff Potter’s defense in court after a long while of silence because he and Huck witnessed a murder that Muff Potter didn’t commit. In the book, it did say Tom and Muff Potter did have a good relationship because Tom recalled how Muff Potter went fishing with him and other boys in the past. This could have stemed Tom’s guilt of staying silent over Moff Potter’s supposed

Shmoop Editorial Team. “Mark Twain: Childhood.” Shmoop, Shmoop University, 11 Nov. 2008, www.shmoop.com/mark-twain/childhood.html. Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Great Illustrated Classics. Baronet Books. 4 “Character Analysis Tom Sawyer.” THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, 8 Nov. 2018, tom-sawyer.book-edu.com/character-analysis-tom-sawyer/. Tom’s amd Huck’s blood Oath of Silence

The choice keep silent nearly costed the life of framed individual, Muff Potter. At the trial, Tom ultimatly broke the oath in the end.

Perhaps the biggest misdeed that Tom and Huck In conclusion, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer tells the story both share is keeping silent about the murder they witnessed of a mischievous boy named Tom Sawyer who likes to have for fear of their losing lives. In the story, Tom snuck out at fun and adventure. Mark Twain’s story is the best and it serves night to meet with Huck and both came to grave yard and saw to remind people of their childhood. In addition, Tom and Injun Joe kill a man and were the only ones to have seen the Huck are the bad guys in their own way. However by the murder. Then Tom and Huck swore keep to silent for fear of end of the story, it is pointed out they are not perfect human Injun Joe coming to kill them if he found out they saw him beings and eventually Tom and Huck improve themselves by murder a person. As a result, a man named Muff Potter, who the end of the story. was a former partner of Injun Joe gets framed for the murder, due to Tom and Huck’s silence. However, Tom felt extremely guilty for not saying anything about the murder, which haunts him throughout the novel and Huck is not bothered by a thing. This guilt is shown when Tom goes to Muff Potter’s jail cell to give him food and such, showing that Tom has redeeming qualities and when he decides to speak out in the courtroom when he is asked to the stand by a lawyer and then asked the details in regard to the murder. Although, this is never said but in Mark Twain’s book, the lawyer asking Tom to the stand and asking him the details of the murder does imply that someone found out that Tom and Huck were linked to Injun’s murder. Despite Tom’s and Huck’s bad course of action, Mark Twain points out that they’re not perfect human beings and as the story goes, both boys do improve themselves and become better over time. In addition, readers can see how this is written from a child’s perspective. An example is that Tom Sawyer starts as a troublemaker, and throughout the story, he matures and becomes a more responsible character based on his early experience in the novel. However the only thing Tom has not moved away from is his love for fun and adventure and desire to be with love interest, Becky Thatcher. Huck somewhat Tom’s worst fear: Injun Joe coming to kill changes and develops into a more caring person, but he does if he found that he and Huck saw him not really change much because he feels obligated to go about killed a person his own free will.

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Character Analysis.” Course Hero, www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Adventures-of-Tom-Sawyer/character-analysis/. 5 “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Characters.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com, www.enotes.com/topics/tom-sawyer/characters. Interpretation

6 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This directly focusing on Tom’s friend and partner in crime, Huckleberry “Huck” Finn. In the beginning of the story, Huck Finn got adopted by Widow Douglass and finds himself that he not enjoying it at all. Shortly after, he gets kidnapped by his abusive, drunk father. Later, Huck runs away and fakes his own death, so he doesn’t to have to return to civilization. Along the way, he meets a runaway slave named Jim. Jim and Huck go on many adventures together and eventually, Jim gets caught and taken back to be hanged. Huck reaches to his friend Tom Sawyer and the famous duo set out to free Jim from slavery. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is good story because it centers on Huck Finn’s desire for freedom and Tom and Huck’s battle against slavery. In the second of novel of Tom and Huck, the book fully explores Huck’s Finn character. In the beginning of the story, Huck is narrating the story and seems aware that he is a story book character and who Mark Twain is because he says that this at the beginning of the first chapter: “You might have heard of me if you read the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain”. In addition, it also seems that Huck is breaking the fourth wall (talking to the audience) in this sentence. In the sentence, Huck is referring to the prequal of the book and engaging reader as to who he is. In addition, in the first half of the story, the novel focuses on Huck’s desire to get away from civilization. From what the audience knows about Huck in the last book is that he lives in streets and has no parental guidance. He’s also a person who will try new things, if he feels if he has no choice and just to be apart of a group or activity. After getting adopted, Huck is not fond it because he feels con- trolled and cooped up. The readers do learn that Huck makes his own rules and regulations. Despite these qualities, Huck does have his morals. Also, these qualities allow him to form a friendship with the runaway slave, Jim. When readers read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the book expresses Mark Twain’s dislike towards slavery. Mark Twain also explains in this book that children as young as Tom and Huck Finn, the center focus character in the Tom Sawyer Huck, don’t fully understand racism that well and but they do know rules behind it such as not to free slaves. In addition, this would sequal. explain Huck’s character easily. When a reader thinks about it, Huck doesn’t fully understand what racism is, but he does the rules behind it and slavery. It’s also apparent he knows that other white “You might have heard of people would attack him if he makes any attempt free Jim or any slave. of him and only cared about Jim being free. never around, leaving Huck to care for himself. Huck is not treated right by the me if you read the Adven- villagers because he lived in the streets. Fortunately Hucks did find caring people in his life and they proved how important they were to him is his life. tures of Tom Sawyer by Unfortunately, this was how things were back then in Twain’s time. Huck Finn in our generation, would be seen as a street boy and a homeless person. Mark Twain does describe what Mark Twain”. homeless people were like in his generation. Being homeless gave Huck the ability to travel to where he wanted to go at anytime and any place. He also learned to be self reliant from this experience. However, Huck didn’t care what other people thought of Compared to our generation, people still treated people that live in him and only cared about Jim being free. Huck Finn’s father and the streets like an outcast. This due to that fact richer people saw was absent and never around, leaving Huck to care for himself. poorer people inferior. Even though there were mean people that Huck is not treated right by the villagers because he lived in the treated streets kids cruelly, they were also caring people at the same streets. Fortunately Hucks did find caring people in his life, mostly time. This is allowed Tom Sawyer to meet and befriend Huck Finn.

Laiken, Deidre S., and Mark Twain. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Baronet Books, 1990. 7 Bk. “Huckleberry Finn’s Ethical Dilemma and Slavery.” Huckleberry Finn’s Ethical Dilemma and Slavery, Blogger, 19 Feb. 2017, christiancad- re.blogspot.com/2017/02/huckleberry-finns-ethical-dilemma-and.html. Huck and Jim are good friends and have one thing in common: They both want to be free control in their lives.

boys in his age such as Tom Sawyer and Tom Sawyer accepted him as one of his friends, beyond the given stereotype by adults. Till the end of the story, they both succeed in getting their freedom and Huck makes plans to go west to get away from civi- Despite the given stereotype, it’s sad this is how things were back lization. It can be assumed that Huck’s adventure with Jim had an then. According to an article from the Union of Professonals impact on him which furthered his desire to get away from control. website, Mark Twain born before the Americal Civil War, was as a When readers read about Huck and Jim, they can see how Mark born as Southerner and lived as a Northerner, and a New England Twain strongly opposed slavery and expressed the slave’s perspec- Yankee because he spent a lot of time traveling to places. He also tive using Jim’s character. Furthermore, Huck and Jim differ from briefly faught in the Civil War and according to the Civil War Saga each other based how they feel about having a family. Jim ranaway website, He joined the Confederate army and then quit two weeks because he learned he was going to be sold and then separated his later. In his childhood, he was exposed to slavery and influenced by wife and children. On the other hand, Huck doesn’t care much for the sad looks their faces. Twain describes this as: a family because of his past experience with people. Huck’s father is the town drunk and is abusive towards Huck Finn and is absent “They had,” he said, “the saddest faces I ever saw.” and never around, leaving Huck to care for himself. Huck was also treated as an outcast by the villagers because he lived in the streets. Later in his life, Twain interviewed slaves and ex-slaves Perhaps Hucks considers the closest person as a family member to such as Mary Ann Cord, for newspapers and articles. This led and him is Tom Sawyer because Tom Sawyer accepted him and the duo served as an inspiration for the sequel to the The Adventures of seem have a brotherly relationship. Huckleberry Finn, reusing Huck Finn and a new character, Jim. Ever since The Adventures of Tom Sawyer came out, Huck and Jim share one thing in common, they both strive to be some readers might ask, how did Tom and Huck meet? It can free from control. The difference between Huck and Jim is that assumed they known each other since childhood and met at some Huck has the choice to free will, but Jim doesn’t have a choice for point long before the events of Mark Twain’s first book, because free will , but he forces himself to runaway anyway. Huck Finn is quite well known to the children and adults that live in the village.

Aftunion. “The Life That Shaped Mark Twain’s Anti-Slavery Views.” American Federation of Teachers, 3 Nov. 2014, www.aft.org/periodical/ american-educator/fall-2002/life-shaped-mark-twains-anti-slavery-views. “Mark Twain’s Civil War Experience.” Civil War Saga, 10 Aug. 2018, civilwarsaga.com/mark-twains-civil-war-experience/. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Major Events Timeline.” Timetoast, www.timetoast.com/timelines/huck-finn-major-events-timeline. 8 Tom Sawyer (1973), Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer (1973) Páni kluci (1976), Czech movie directed by Věra Plívová-Šimková Huckleberry Finn and His Friends (1979), TV series The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1980), Japanese anime television series The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (Приключения Тома Сойера и Гекльберри Финна), 1981 Soviet Union version directed by Stanislav Govorukhin[23] Tom Sawyer (1984), Canadian claymation version produced by Hal Roach studios Tom and Huck (1995), starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas as Tom and Brad Renfro as Huck Finn. The story takes place in contemporary time. Tom Sawyer (2000), animated adaptation featuring the characters as anthropomorphic animals instead of humans with an all-star voice cast, including country singers Rhett Akins, Mark Wills, Lee Ann Womack, Waylon Jennings, and Hank Williams Jr. as well as Betty White[25] Thomas Sawyer, as a young adult, is a character in the movie League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, portrayed by Shane West. Here, Tom is a U.S. Secret Service agent who joins the team’s fight against Professor Moriarty. Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn (2014), starring Joel Courtney as Tom and Jake T. Austin as Huck. Band of Robbers, a 2015 American crime comedy film written and directed by the Nee Brothers Also, readers might wonder why Tom Sawyer doesn’t have a major role in the sequel. The reason for that is because Mark Twain had the novel Tom and Huck, 1995 film centered on Huck Finn only. But Twain seemed have made sure to include Tom Sawyer anyway possible. As a result, Tom Sawyer is a supporting character in this sequal and his role is helping Huck Finn with his goals, just like Huck Finn was a supporting character in the The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Plus, Tom Sawyer has not really changed all and, is still the adventure seeking boy that readers all know and love. In conclusion, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a sequel to the Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It focuses on Huck Finn, his desire for freedom and friendship with Jim. Huck’s desire for freedom and control allows him to make befriend Jim, whom has that in common with. Huck has free will, but Jim doesn’t. Due to Huck’s choice to make his own rules, he sets to free Jim, despite the consequences and how people will see him. In can be im- plied that Huck Finn is was very much impacted by this, he desired to get away from civilization.

Tom and Huck in popular media

Tom Sawyer (1917) Tom Sawyer (1930) Tom Sawyer (1936) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) Aventurile lui Tom Sawyer (1968), The New Adventures of Huckleberry Fin (1968), a half-hour live-action/animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions[18] Las Aventuras de Juliancito (1969), Mexican film

9 “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Tom_Sawyer#Film_and_television. Tom, Jim, and Huck

Interpretation

10 The Prince and the Pauper tells the story of two identical boys that switch places to see what the other side of the world is like. The prince’s name is Edward Tudor Tom and the pauper’s name is meets Tom Canty. When two boys meet, they both took Edward immediate interest into each other’s background decided to switch places to see what it feels like to be each other’s place. After doing so, Tom experiences all the struggles and responsibilities that Edward does and Edward goes through the abuse and suffering that Tom has go through. In the end, they switch back places and become The Prince “The Grass is not Greener on the Other Side”. and the Pauper is a very good book by Mark Twain because it explores the hierarchy within its people, lessons about the justice system, and it is similar to Tom and Huck. The whole novel displays how Mark Twain A pauper is a very poor person The beginning of the novels tells how in early England, it displays his disdain to towards Early En- was ruled a monarch; a king and a queen. It immediately introduces Tom Canty as a pauper gland’s monarchy and hierarchy. Not only of a poor family and Edward Tudor as a prince and future king of England. Although does Twain explore from a king’s perspec- not directly mentioned, Mark Twain describes the Feudal pyramid (below) from the Early tive bur also from a pauper’s perspetive. England period and uses it explain Tom’s and Edward’s backgrounds. Twain also explains However, a prince is not just seen as a royal the pros and cons on both sides of the pyramid. When a reader of the book looks at the person who rules the entires country, Mark pyramid, they can see that Tom Canty is at the bottom of the pyramid and Edward is at the usually interprets a prince as a someone top below the Church. a lot to do what he wants and has a huge amount of influence to the public.

Edward (The Prince)

Tom (The Pauper)

11 Gudek, Tea. Medieval Wall, medievalwall.com/society/feudalism/. Before the switch, Tom Canty dreamed of living the life a prince. After the switch, he got more than what he asked for. He had no knowledge on how to run a country and did not know the responsibilities of being a king. Due to Tom and Edward’s identical appearance’s and no one know about the switch, everyone was very convinced that Tom was the prince and believed he “was going mad” because of the behavior he displayed. When Tom was asked how to judge a person that was brought before him and broke the general law or law of the church, Tom would make try to make a careful judgement and tried very hard to be fair. As a result, he ended in sparing all of them and this made Edward look like a sympathetic person towards poor and lesser people. In addition, Tom also changed laws that he felt were unjust and harsh. An example of this is that Tom let Edward’s whipping boy go because it wasn’t right to beat someone for a person’s misbehavior. In addition, Tom also spared a couple women who supposedly sold their souls to the Devil, from hanging because he found the evidence was too poor and the claims false. This is something Edward would not have done before the switch. If Edward were in this position before the switch, he would have pressed charges and most of the people who accused hanged. Tom also fixed what he thought was injustice and all this made Edward look like a kind hearted person and has a soft spot towards peasents. Ironic, Edward did grow to become a kind hearted person and developed a soft spot towards peasents. At first, Edward believed he was a kind hearted person and he didn’t realize it until the end of the story. As a result, he congradulated Tom for filling in for him and fixing all the injustices across England. As a reward, he appointed Tom as a royal Ward.

Edward Tudor, on the other hand, went through constant abuse that Tom went through with. During this, he discovers the extreme difficulties of the common people such as their sufferings and challenges. This experience allows him to learn to care and have compassion towards his subjects on the bottom side of the pyramid. Furthermore, the reason why Edward was considered mad because when he kept protesting, he’s the prince repeatedly, and no believed him he didn’t look like the prince and all the people could do is laugh at him or beating him. The prince was used to people listening and paying attention to him and that became a barrier to why it was hard to convince that people that he is who he says he is. However, the only person that discovered the switch was Tom’s mother because she tested Edward using a candle light when Edward was sleeping and went to see how Edward would react to it. But he didn’t react in the way she expected. As Edward continued with his protesting, he was unaware that the king had so many enemies, and those that believed Edward were willing to murder him as a revenge against Edward’s father. For example, an elderly insane attempted to kill (above) Tom Canty switched in Edward’s place Edward as revenge against his father and failed. (below) Edward Tudor switched in Tom’s place

12 When Mark Twain wrote this amazing historical fictional novel, it can become clear how Twain pokes fun at the justice system with in the government and that can refer to any country’s government in the world. Twain uses a fiction character and a non-fictional character to explain how his perception. When Tom Canty is switched as a Prince, Twain points out most of the flaws and injustices the government makes. When Edward (the same historical Edward, known as Edward VI of England, (right picture)) is switched as a Pauper, Twain points out that the challenges that the people face due the government’s injustice and flaws. In the end the novel, Twain tells the readers not to hate the government, but to be aware of both sides of the justice system and their flaws. In other words, no government is perfect. One thing Mark Twain did in this historical fictional novel is that he keeps going close and along with the original timeline. Much like his orginal historical counterpart, Prince Edward does die at a very young age as a teenager. Tom Canty lives on and respected by all people. However Tom Canty is not a real person and this could explain why Mark Twain chose let the character live in the end. After Edward dies, readers could be left in wonder how Tom Canty lives through and copes with all the rulers after Edward. Next, Tom Canty and Edward Tudor could very have some inspi- rations from two certain boys also written by Mark Twain.

When a reader reads Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer, Huck- leberry Finn and also Prince and the Pauper, it is that noted that there is similarities and differences between the boys of two novel series. One difference between Prince and Tom is that Tom gets into trouble for fun and Edward gets into trouble by accident. One similarity that Tom Sawyer and Prince have they both have a natural sense of authority and try to make people believe and people don’t believe them. Next, the difference between Huck and the Pauper is that Huck is content with being poor and Pauper always want to be a prince. Also, Huck barely has any family and Pauper does has a family. Huck and Pauper both share is that they’re both poor, both children, and both like to pretend. In conclusion, The Prince and the Pauper tells the story of how two identical boy who switch places to see what the other is like. What makes the book good is that it explores the hierarchy within its people, lessons about the justice system, and it is similar to Tom and Huck. Tom Canty and Edward Tudor both learn the challenges behind other side of the justice system. In addition, Mark Twain wrote this to keep readers aware of the challenges and flaws of the government’s justice system. Next, Tom Canty and Edward Tudor have similarities and differences with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

Mark Twain’s famous boys from American Literature: Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Tom Canty, and Edward Tudor.

Todd, Toad. “Tom Sawyer vs. Prince and the Pauper.” Prezi.com, 7 Feb. 2013, prezi.com/r5km9xzvvvi0/tom-sawyer-vs-prince- 13 and-the-pauper/. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Anaysis on Tom and Huck from other the son of the town drunk, he is pretty much an orphan. He sleeps Writers where he pleases, provided that nobody chases him off, and he eats when he pleases, provided that he can find a morsel. No one requires him to attend school or church, bathe, or dress respectably. Tom Sawyer It is understandable, if not expected, that Huck smokes and swears. Years of having to fend for himself have invested Huck with a solid When the novel begins, Tom is a mischievous child who envies common sense and a practical competence that complement Tom’s Huck Finn’s lazy lifestyle and freedom. As Tom’s adventures dreamy idealism and fantastical approach to reality (Tom creates proceed, however, critical moments show Tom moving away from worlds for himself that are based on those in stories he has read). his childhood concerns and making mature, responsible decisions. But Huck does have two traits in common with Tom: a zest for These moments include Tom’s testimony at Muff Potter’s trial, his adventure and a belief in superstition. saving of Becky from punishment, and his heroic navigation out of the cave. By the end of the novel, Tom is coaxing Huck into Through Huck, Twain weighs the costs and benefits of living in a staying at the Widow Douglas’s, urging his friend to accept tight society against those of living independently of society. For most collars, Sunday school, and good table manners. He is no longer a of the novel, adult society disapproves of Huck, but because Twain disobedient character undermining the adult order, but a defender renders Huck such a likable boy, the adults’ disapproval of Huck of respectability and responsibility. In the end, growing up for generally alienates us from them and not from Huck himself. After Tom means embracing social custom and sacrificing the freedoms Huck saves the Widow Douglas and gets rich, the scale tips in the of childhood. direction of living in society. But Huck, unlike Tom, isn’t convinced that the exchange of freedom for stability is worth it. He has little Yet Tom’s development isn’t totally coherent. The novel jumps back use for the money he has found and is quite devoted to his rough, and forth among several narrative strands: Tom’s general misbehav- independent lifestyle. When the novel ends, Huck, like Tom, is still ior, which climaxes in the Jackson’s Island adventure; his courtship a work in progress, and we aren’t sure whether the Widow Doug- of Becky, which culminates in his acceptance of blame for the book las’s attempts to civilize him will succeed (Twain reserves the that she rips; and his struggle with Injun Joe, which ends with Tom conclusion of Huck’s story for his later novel, The Adventures of and Huck’s discovery of the treasure. Because of the picaresque, or Huckleberry Finn). episodic, nature of the plot, Tom’s character can seem inconsistent, as it varies depending upon his situation. Tom is a paradoxical figure The Adventurues of Huckberry Finn Analysis on Huck, Jim, and Jim by in some respects—for example, he has no determinate age. Some- other Writers times Tom shows the naïveté of a smaller child, with his interest in make-believe and superstitions. On the other hand, Tom’s roman- tic interest in Becky and his fascination with Huck’s smoking and Huckleberry Finn drinking seem more the concerns of an adolescent. From the beginning of the novel, Twain makes it clear that Huck is Whether or not a single course of development characterizes Tom’s a boy who comes from the lowest levels of white society. His father adventures, a single character trait—Tom’s unflagging energy and is a drunk and a ruffian who disappears for months on end. Huck thirst for adventure—propels the novel from episode to episode. himself is dirty and frequently homeless. Although the Widow Disobedient though he may be, Tom ends up as St. Petersburg’s Douglas attempts to “reform” Huck, he resists her attempts and hero. As the town gossips say, “[Tom] would be President, yet, if he maintains his independent ways. The community has failed to pro- escaped hanging.” tect him from his father, and though the Widow finally gives Huck some of the schooling and religious training that he had missed, Huckleberry Finn he has not been indoctrinated with social values in the same way a middle-class boy like Tom Sawyer has been. Huck’s distance from In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain created a character who exempli- mainstream society makes him skeptical of the world around him fies freedom within, and from, American society. Huck lives on the and the ideas it passes on to him. margins of society because, as the son of the town drunk, he as

SparkNotes, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/lit/tomsawyer/character/tom-sawyer/. SparkNotes, SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/lit/huckfinn/character/huckleberry-huck-finn/. 14 Huck’s instinctual distrust and his experiences as he travels down Some readers have criticized Jim as being too passive, but it is the river force him to question the things society has taught him. important to remember that he remains at the mercy of every other According to the law, Jim is Miss Watson’s property, but according character in this novel, including even the poor, thirteen-year-old to Huck’s sense of logic and fairness, it seems “right” to help Jim. Huck, as the letter that Huck nearly sends to Miss Watson demon- Huck’s natural intelligence and his willingness to think through strates. Like Huck, Jim is realistic about his situation and must find a situation on its own merits lead him to some conclusions that ways of accomplishing his goals without incurring the wrath of are correct in their context but that would shock white society. those who could turn him in. In this position, he is seldom able to For example, Huck discovers, when he and Jim meet a group act boldly or speak his mind. Nonetheless, despite these restrictions of slave-hunters, that telling a lie is sometimes the right course and constant fear, Jim consistently acts as a noble human being and of action. a loyal friend. In fact, Jim could be described as the only real adult in the novel, and the only one who provides a positive, respectable Because Huck is a child, the world seems new to him. Everything example for Huck to follow. he encounters is an occasion for thought. Because of his background, however, he does more than just apply the rules that he has Tom Sawyer been taught—he creates his own rules. Yet Huck is not some kind of independent moral genius. He must still struggle with some of Tom is the same age as Huck and his best friend. Whereas Huck’s the preconceptions about blacks that society has ingrained in him, birth and upbringing have left him in poverty and on the margins and at the end of the novel, he shows himself all too willing to of society, Tom has been raised in relative comfort. As a result, his follow Tom Sawyer’s lead. But even these failures are part of what beliefs are an unfortunate combination of what he has learned from makes Huck appealing and sympathetic. He is only a boy, after all, the adults around him and the fanciful notions he has gleaned from and therefore fallible. Imperfect as he is, Huck represents what any- reading romance and adventure novels. Tom believes in sticking one is capable of becoming: a thinking, feeling human being rather strictly to “rules,” most of which have more to do with style than than a mere cog in the machine of society. with morality or anyone’s welfare. Tom is thus the perfect foil for Huck: his rigid adherence to rules and precepts contrasts with Jim Huck’s tendency to question authority and think for himself.

Jim, Huck’s companion as he travels down the river, is a man of re- Tom learns such stories from his family and adventure novels. Tom markable intelligence and compassion. At first glance, Jim seems to believes in sticking strictly to “rules,” most of which have more to be superstitious to the point of idiocy, but a careful reading of the do with style than with morality or anyone’s welfare. Tom is thus time that Huck and Jim spend on Jackson’s Island reveals that Jim’s the perfect foil for Huck: his rigid adherence to rules and pre- superstitions conceal a deep knowledge of the natural world and cepts contrasts with Huck’s tendency to question authority and represent an alternate form of “truth” or intelligence. Moreover, think for himself. Jim has one of the few healthy, functioning families in the novel. Although he has been separated from his wife and children, he Although Tom’s escapades are often funny, they also show just how misses them terribly, and it is only the thought of a permanent sep- disturbingly and unthinkingly cruel society can be. Tom knows all aration from them that motivates his criminal act of running away along that Miss Watson has died and that Jim is now a free man, from Miss Watson. On the river, Jim becomes a surrogate father, as yet he is willing to allow Jim to remain a captive while he entertains well as a friend, to Huck, taking care of him without being intrusive himself with fantastic escape plans. Tom’s plotting tortures not only or smothering. He cooks for the boy and shelters him from some Jim, but Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas as well. In the end, although he of the worst horrors that they encounter, including the sight of is just a boy like Huck and is appealing in his zest for adventure and Pap’s corpse, and, for a time, the news of his father’s passing. his unconscious wittiness, Tom embodies what a young, well-to-do white man is raised to become in the society of his time: self-centered with dominion over all.

15 The Prince and the Pauper Analysis by other Writers

A Pauper

What’s a pauper? Well, a pauper is basically a poor person, but [H]e put in a good deal of his time listening to good Father there’s a little more to it than that. A pauper is also someone who Andrew’s charming old tales and legends about giants and fairies, depends on public aid to survive. Unfortunately for Tom, he was dwarfs, and genii, and enchanted castles, and gorgeous kings and just one queen away from actually receiving that kind of assistance: princes. His head grew to be full of these wonderful things, and in his day, being a pauper meant begging in the streets... which was many a night as he lay in the dark on his scant and offensive straw, illegal, by the way. tired, hungry, smarting from a thrashing, he unleashed his imagination and soon forgot his aches and pains in delicious picturings Wait, you ask: how were people supposed to survive if there was no to himself of the charmed life of a petted prince in a regal palace. assistance and begging was illegal? Well, don’t ask King Henry VIII, (2.5) ‘cause he probably doesn’t care. Gradually, Tom begins to use Father Andrew’s stories as a way to Okay, so things aren’t so great for Tom: he’s poor, there’s no assis- escape his own life. By thinking of all these magical and fantastical tance, and he could get thrown into jail for trying to help his family. situations, his own problems seem less terrible. On top of everything else, the part of London he lives in is pretty violent: That’s not the only thing that comes out of Father Andrew’s stories. Tom also starts to act like a prince. He changes his speech and When he came home empty-handed at night, he knew his father manners so much that everyone else in the slums starts to look up would curse him and thrash him first, and that when he was done to him. Even grown-ups treat him like he’s royalty. the awful grandmother would do it all over again and improve on it; and that away in the night his starving mother would slip to All of this is kind of weird, but it’s important for what happens him stealthily with any miserable scrap or crust she had been able next to Tom. Think about it, would your average street urchin be to save for him by going hungry herself, notwithstanding she was able to pass himself off as a prince? Even though Tom does a pret- often caught in that sort of treason and soundly beaten for it by her ty iffy job, at least he had a head start from Father Andrew’s stories. husband. (2.4) He even knew a little bit of Latin, and that helps convince the royal court that Tom’s legit. So on top of it all, Tom’s dad and grandmother are abusive to him, his mother, and his sisters. Sounds like the kid just can’t win. On top of that, since the people in Tom’s neighborhood already know him to be a little strange and obsessed with princes, it makes Now, if you were living Tom’s life, wouldn’t you dream of some- Edward’s appearance seem a bit more normal. After all, it’s not thing better? so big of a leap to think that Tom might have gone insane and imagined himself a prince. He was already acting like one. There’s a A Dreamer point to this, by the way: Tom’s success at passing himself off as a Tom’s a dreamer. He wants a better life partly because he can actu- prince shows that poor people, given an education and the opportu- ally imagine what a better life might look like. He can even imagine nity to succeed, can do just as well as anyone born into money. what it’s like to be a prince. So how does a kid from the slums of 16th-century London get these kinds of ideas? Well, that’s where Father Andrew comes into the story.

Father Andrew’s the one who teaches Tom how to read, write, and think about things like princes:

He soon 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)

“The Prince and the Pauper Analysis.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com, www.enotes.com/topics/prince-pauper/in-depth. “The Prince and the Pauper.” TV Tropes, tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/ThePrinceAndThePauper. 16 A Kind King

If you could pick one word to describe Tom, it might be “kind.” We Well, it seems the best reason that Twain can give us is that he’s mean, the very first thing that Tom does as king is say this: “Then poor, or at least from a poor background, and that just doesn’t qual- shall the king’s law be law of mercy, from this day, and never more ify you to be a king in 16th-century England. There are some other be law of blood!” (11.21). There will be no more killing people for complications, too: even though Tom seems to be acclimating pretty no reason, at least while he’s around. That’s a pretty far cry from well to this whole being rich thing, he still has family out there. King Henry VIII’s style—which was to send 70,000 people to death by beheading. When Tom’s mom shows up at the coronation parade, Tom starts to hate being king all of a sudden: This shift in policy is so dramatic that we can see why Twain would come up with the idea of a beggar taking the crown. How else She embraced his leg, she covered it with kisses, she cried, “O, my would you explain that the son of King Henry VIII was such a child, my darling!” lifting toward him a face that was transfigured gentle and kindhearted king? Something weird happened, and that with joy and love […]The words “I do not know you, woman!” weirdness is Tom. Well, that’s Twain’s story, anyway. were falling from Tom Canty’s lips when this piteous thing oc- curred; but it smote him to the heart to see her treated so;[…]she And everyone notices. When Prince Edward asks Blake Andrews seemed so wounded, so broken-hearted, that a shame fell upon him about the new king, he says: which consumed his pride to ashes, and withered his stolen royalty. His grandeurs were stricken valueless; they seemed to fall away from “What king, indeed! God-a-mercy, what aileth the boy? Sith we him like rotten rags. (31.13) have but one, ‘tis not difficult to answer—his most sacred majesty King Edward the Sixth—whom God preserve! Yea, and a dear and Tom doesn’t want to start a fancy new life if it means that he has gracious little urchin is he, too; and whether he be mad or no—and to hurt people who care about him—and that includes not just his they say he mendeth daily—his praises are on all men’s lips; and all mom and his sister but Edward, too. It’s more proof that Tom is a bless him likewise, and offer prayers that he may be spared to reign good, decent kid at heart. Twain tries to give us a happy ending for long in England; for he began humanely with saving the old Duke Tom when he tells us how Edward gave Tom and his family money of Norfolk’s life, and now is he bent on destroying the crudest of to make their lives better; that’s great and all, but the fact that this the laws that harry and oppress the people.” (27.41) probably would never happen in reality drives home the point there are some serious problems with a system that keeps people like We’ll translate that for you. “King? We have the best king ever, and Tom poor and hopeless. he’s doing more awesome things every single day. Yeah, his people like him.”

But not only is Tom kind to people like him, he’s even kind when you wouldn’t expect him to be. For example, he’s the only person who stands behind Prince Edward when no one else believes that he’s the real king. Tom even helps Edward remember where the Great Seal is, even though everyone wants to kill Tom once they find out he’s an imposter. That’s one kind kid.

Once a Pauper, Always a Pauper So far, it sounds like Tom is the best king ever, right? So why would we want him to leave the throne? He’s kind, he understands the suffering of poor people—what more could you want?

17 Edward Tudor He easily concluded that the pauper lad, Tom Canty, had deliber- Ignorant, Proud, and Selfish ately taken advantage of his stupendous opportunity and become Admit it. You don’t like Edward much, do you? It’s okay. We mean, a usurper. Therefore there was but one course to pursue—find he’s kind of a terrible person when we first meet him. His pride, his way to the Guildhall, make himself known, and denounce the ignorance, and selfishness are constantly getting him into trouble. impostor. He also made up his mind that Tom should be allowed a reasonable time for spiritual preparation, and then be hanged, Actually, it’s his pride that gets the whole ball rolling to begin with, drawn, and quartered, according to the law and usage of the day, in when that guard is assaulting Tom: “The crowd jeered and laughed; cases of high treason. (10.63) but the young prince sprang to the gate with his face flushed, and his eyes flashing with indignation, and cried out: ‘How dar’st thou Instead of wondering how Tom is doing, or anything else, he in- use a poor lad like that! How dar’st thou use the king my father’s stantly jumps to the conclusion that he would like to sentence Tom meanest subject so! Open the gates, and let him in!’” (3.8) Now, you to death. And not just any kind of death: he wants Tom hanged, might interpret this as kindness, but Edward does refer to Tom as drawn, and quartered, the gruesome punishment for treason. one of his father’s subjects. In other words, what he is saying to the guard is, “How dare you do that to my property?” It’s interesting Let’s not even talk about how he seemed happier about becoming how pride can ruin even seemingly nice things. king than sad that his dad died. But we shouldn’t be surprised by all of this. Edward is Henry VIII’s son, after all. He’s grown up Or take this example: when he finds out the royal court has mistak- privileged, with hundreds of servants at his command. Anyone who en Tom Canty for himself, he thinks: bothered him would simply be killed. This doesn’t sound like the kind of person we would want to be our king. He easily concluded that the pauper lad, Tom Canty, had deliber- It’s not quite an apology, but we’ll take it. Earlier on, Edward would ately taken advantage of his stupendous opportunity and become never have been sorry for anything he did, no matter how ridicu- a usurper. Therefore there was but one course to pursue—find lous. So this is a serious step forward. his way to the Guildhall, make himself known, and denounce the impostor. He also made up his mind that Tom should be allowed While Tom is mostly busy being awesome, The Prince and the a reasonable time for spiritual preparation, and then be hanged, Pauper is a tale of transformation for Edward. He transforms from drawn, and quartered, according to the law and usage of the day, in a royal brat into the kind of person you might actually want ruling cases of high treason. (10.63) your country. It’s a long journey, but he finally makes it.

Instead of wondering how Tom is doing, or anything else, he in- A Reformed King stantly jumps to the conclusion that he would like to sentence Tom to death. And not just any kind of death: he wants Tom hanged, That leads us to King Edward VI of England. This guy is pretty drawn, and quartered, the gruesome punishment for treason. different from the prince we met in the beginning of the novel. He’s gone through suffering, made his way back, and reclaimed his title. Let’s not even talk about how he seemed happier about becoming He comes through it a changed man—uh, we mean boy. king than sad that his dad died. But we shouldn’t be surprised by all of this. Edward is Henry VIII’s son, after all. He’s grown up Remember when he wanted to have Tom Canty hanged, quartered, privileged, with hundreds of servants at his command. Anyone who and drawn? Well, when the royal court suggests the same thing at bothered him would simply be killed. This doesn’t sound like the the end of the novel, it goes down a little differently. The court says: kind of person we would want to be our king. “’Let the small varlet be stripped and flung into the Tower.’ But the new king, the true king, said: ‘I will not have it so. But for him I had You Must Humble Yourself not got my crown again—none shall lay a hand upon him to harm him. [...]” (32.63) Lucky for us (and for England), suffering has a way of teaching people humility. While he is out in the world, Edward manages to Edward’s actually uses his royal powers for good instead of just get many up close and personal experiences with the suffering of threatening to punish people. Who would have seen that coming? his subjects. At first, he reacts to everything by saying he will fix it with a royal edict, but eventually he seems to realize that things are Not only that, but Edward never forgets the lessons he learned. not as simple as that. It seems that he even likes to remind other people who get out of hand, saying: “What dost thou know of suffering and oppression? Edward learns pretty quickly that he has to take things as they come I and my people know, but not thou” (34.11). In other words, his and learn from them. Eventually, he even starts to seem sorry for experience with poverty has given him a perspective that most other his brash early actions. He realizes that ranting and raving won’t nobles lack. solve anything, and that people’s problems In his final transformation, Edward brings Tom Canty’s humility together with his own royal blood in order to create the perfect king. Now if only he could have man aged to live a little longe.

18 Coming Next Issue:

The Tragedies of

William Shakespear

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