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Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Prince and the Pauper, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Appearances vs. Reality
Wealth, Poverty, and Morality
Justice
Nature vs. Nurture
Summary
Analysis
Edward gets sleepy and orders Hendon to get his clothes off and to sleep by the door to keep guard. Hendon smile and thinks to himself that Edward should have been born a king because he plays the part so well. The next day, Hendon sleeps until about noon and quickly gets to work taking Edward’s measurements. Edward comes to a little, but Hendon tells him to keep sleeping while he runs an errand. Hendon goes out and gets some second-hand clothes for Edward, thinking that the boy will be especially grateful for the shoes because he’s probably used to going barefoot. Back at the hotel, Hendon notes that he’ll have to be quiet because Edward is apparently still sleeping. Hendon sings while he makes some adjustments to Edward’s new clothes and waits for breakfast to come up. When Hendon finishes sewing, however, he discovers that Edward is gone.
Hendon again notes that Edward plays the role of king remarkably well for someone who Hendon believes has spent their whole life living on the streets without even a pair of shoes to protect his feet. Still, Hendon writes this observation off rather than considering the possibility that Edward is who he says he is. Aside from the shabby clothes, part of the reason so many people find it difficult to believe Edward might be due to his age (he’s about nine years old), since at this time (and to this day) children aren’t always taken seriously.
Themes
Hendon pulls the bedding apart, realizing that it’s been set up to make it look like Edward is still sleeping there. A servant comes in with breakfast, and Hendon, in a rage, demands answers. The servant explains that right after Hendon left, someone came in and woke Edward up to tell him that Hendon needed him. Edward grumbled a little but followed the person out. Hendon interrogates the servant (who he thinks is an absolute fool) until he learns that as Edward left, another man followed them to the Southwark side of the bridge. Hendon dismisses the servant and infers that the man must have been the one who tried to take Edward the night before. Hendon, realizing Edward only followed the mystery person for Hendon’s sake, rushes out to search for Edward.
Hendon feels an added sense of obligation toward Edward because the boy obviously trusts and loves Hendon. In fact, Edward’s love for Hendon is strong enough that he followed a stranger out of the room even though he knew John Canty might have been waiting for him out there somewhere. In other words, Edward might be in trouble because he left the room but he only would have left because he thought Hendon needed him. If Edward is in trouble, then, Hendon has a duty to go to him.
Themes
