Being the only one of Mark Twain’s novels written specifically for children, The Prince and the Pauper was published in 1881. Catherine Dominic, a novelist and editor, voiced her opinions about Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, mainly that it contains many instances of mistaken identity, the most obvious cases are those of Prince Edward and Tom Canty. Catherine states that through the experience of lost identity, Twain depicts one's personal identity as something with a dualistic nature. For Twain, as these characters' experiences demonstrate, “identity exists as a composite of how we view ourselves and how we are viewed by others” (Catherine Dominic). Additionally, the author's creation of his own overtly dual identity—that of Samuel Langhorne Clemens and that of Mark Twain—underscores the significance to Twain of this conception of identity and selfhood. This is also significant because the idea of dual identity also ties in with the two main characters of the novel: Tom Canty and Edward Tudor. All of this is true in the sense that Twain focuses on the theme of identity.
From the moment Edward realizes …show more content…
He says the key to Mark Twain's mind is the concept of identity. Among all of his important books, the concept of individual identity is most focused on in The Prince and the Pauper. And on the mystery of identity. “The quest for identity is central to both his writing and his personality” (Bradford Smith). This importance in his works can be traced to its importance in his life as well. The devices that recur in his stories—disguise, deception, self-deception and make-believe—all grow out of this concern with identity. Bradford does provide some key points about identity; however, it does seem a bit extreme in how it relates to the characters and/or Twain’s own personal life. Although Twain provides multiple themes in the novel, the theme of identity is evidently more focused upon in this particular
From the moment Edward realizes …show more content…
He says the key to Mark Twain's mind is the concept of identity. Among all of his important books, the concept of individual identity is most focused on in The Prince and the Pauper. And on the mystery of identity. “The quest for identity is central to both his writing and his personality” (Bradford Smith). This importance in his works can be traced to its importance in his life as well. The devices that recur in his stories—disguise, deception, self-deception and make-believe—all grow out of this concern with identity. Bradford does provide some key points about identity; however, it does seem a bit extreme in how it relates to the characters and/or Twain’s own personal life. Although Twain provides multiple themes in the novel, the theme of identity is evidently more focused upon in this particular