The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain is the story of Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lives a prestigious and comfortable life in the shelter of the palace. In unequivocal contrast, the world outside his peaceful refuge is one of discord and unspeakable poverty. Edward is naively unaware of this dark reality, as he is blinded by his fantasies of living freely from princely responsibilities and royal obligations. Though his selfishness seems at first only a minor flaw, it soon becomes his greatest downfall after his dream of living a free life is realized at the meeting of a pauper, Tom Canty. It is in this encounter that he devises the life-changing plan to switch places for a day. Tom would live as a prince and Edward as a pauper. Eventually
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Imprisoned once more, Edward befriended two women whose crime was their difference in religious beliefs, to that of the Church of England. Upon learning of their unjust demise, Edward was deeply saddened, and when he was forced to watch them burn at the stake; he was overcome with hopelessness and grief. Edward now wished he had been able to use his kingly authority to save their innocent lives. In his guilt, Edward’s selfishness was crushed, his previous longings of returning to the palace to escape from his own plight, diminished. These self-important aspirations were replaced by the self-sacrificial yearning to free the oppressed of his kingdom. Truthfully, in overcoming his futile desires of self with his new found sense of altruism, charity becomes Edward’s strongest …show more content…
However, at the venture's end, this selfish purpose has been diminished and with it the self-centered resolves of his past life. This is brought about by the destruction of Edward’s selfishness, as he experienced the helplessness of being unable to prevent the executions of two innocent women. Edward realizes that his purpose as a monarch is not for his own contentment, but for those subject to him. Remarkably transformed by tragedy, Edward grew in his strengths of compassion and humility, discarded his selfishness, and gained the virtue of
Imprisoned once more, Edward befriended two women whose crime was their difference in religious beliefs, to that of the Church of England. Upon learning of their unjust demise, Edward was deeply saddened, and when he was forced to watch them burn at the stake; he was overcome with hopelessness and grief. Edward now wished he had been able to use his kingly authority to save their innocent lives. In his guilt, Edward’s selfishness was crushed, his previous longings of returning to the palace to escape from his own plight, diminished. These self-important aspirations were replaced by the self-sacrificial yearning to free the oppressed of his kingdom. Truthfully, in overcoming his futile desires of self with his new found sense of altruism, charity becomes Edward’s strongest …show more content…
However, at the venture's end, this selfish purpose has been diminished and with it the self-centered resolves of his past life. This is brought about by the destruction of Edward’s selfishness, as he experienced the helplessness of being unable to prevent the executions of two innocent women. Edward realizes that his purpose as a monarch is not for his own contentment, but for those subject to him. Remarkably transformed by tragedy, Edward grew in his strengths of compassion and humility, discarded his selfishness, and gained the virtue of