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Lockyer 142 states about the life of the noblemen which were very addicted to extravagance. They concerned on building the house into huge houses,
spending a great deal of money just for entertainment, extravagant clothes, jewellery, plate, and etc. The life of the noblemen was very different from the life
of the common people which threatened by the poverty. While, Lockyer 138 also states that there had always been poverty in England, but in the 16
th
century the poverty was so strong. While the common people lived in poverty, the nobles
lived in extravagance. Their inappropriate life style implies that the noblemen did not pay attention to the common people’s life. In the novel, the nobles’ life style is
being criticized, including their way of clothing, their houses, and their food. The nobles’ way of life is being criticized a lot through the character of Tom Canty.
a. The Clothing
Christmon’s Fashions: Women and Men states that in the 16
th
century the noblemen’s clothes were made from fine stuff and they were used to wear some
accessories. Therefore, the richer or the higher of the rank could be seen from the accessories which usually decorated with jewels, pearls, lace, and etc. In the
novel, Mark Twain implicitly describes that the noblemen are used to wear fine clothes. He puts the contrasting fact between the noblemen and the common
people, as an example is as he uses the contrasting facts between the character of Prince Edward Tudor and Tom Canty since they are born 2.
Tom Canty’s adventure when he meets Prince Edward also is used to reveal the ironical fact between the noblemen and the common people.
Poor little Tom, in his rags, approached, and was moving slowly and timidly….Within was a comely boy, tanned and brown with sturdy outdoor
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sports and exercises, whose clothing was all of lovely silks and satins, shinning with jewels; at his hip a little jeweled sword and dagger; dainty
buskins on his feet, with red heels; and on his head a jaunty crimson cap, with drooping plumes fastened with a great sparkling gem 11-2.
The quotation above describes how the life of the common people is compared to the life of the noblemen. While the common people are dressed in
their rags, sometimes the only rags, the noblemen are dressed in extravagant clothes. They are dressed in fine clothes which also made from the fine stuff. Of
course, they have a lot of clothes. The noblemen are also decorated with so many beautiful accessories.
b. The Housing
Lockyer 142 describes that the nobles concerned about their house and they built huge houses for themselves. Mark Twain uses Tom Canty’s adventure
to describe the luxury of the nobles’ houses. Tom in his adventure comes into a rich neighborhood which where the noblemen lives. “…for, though was tolerably
compact row of houses on one side of it, there were only some scattering great buildings on the other, these being palaces of rich nobles, with ample and beautiful
grounds stretching to the river—grounds that are now closely packed with grim acres of brick and stone 10.” Different from the common people who live in a
neighborhood where the safety is not guaranteed, the nobles live in houses and neighborhood where the safety is guaranteed by so many guards 11.
Halsall’s Of The Manner Of Building And Furniture Of Our Houses states about the houses of the nobles which could be regarded as a provision that may
best be made. The nobles’ houses usually were made from brick, hard stone and PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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timber, and would contain some large rooms. There were also a lot of furniture in the noblemens houses. In the novel, Tom Canty’s adventure is also used to
describe the luxury of the palace. Tom Canty, left alone in the prince’s cabinet….He turned himself this way
and before the great mirror, admiring his finery; then walked away, imitating the prince’s high bred carriage, still observing results in the glass.
Next he drew the beautiful sword…Tom played with the jewelled dagger that hung upon his thigh; he examined the costly and exquisite ornaments
of the room; he tried each of the sumptuous chairs…24. After he exchanges position with the Prince, he observes the amazing
ornaments that he has never met.
c. The Food
