The Prince and the Pauper Versions of Reality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

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.