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novel, Prince Edward Tudor wears fine clothes which are also decorated with good accessories. “....clothing was all of lovely silks and satins, shinning with
jewels…fastened with a great sparkling gem. 11. The foods of the noblemen were various as in their big banquets, while
they were also being well-served by so many servants Of The Food And Diet Of The English. The novel also tells the same thing about the nobles and their food.
They have various dishes and are served by so many servants. They employ so many servants even for the weird job task, such as the taster. “The
Taster…prepared to taste any suspicious dish upon requirement, and run the risk of being poisoned” 44. Sometimes they also treat their servants whatever they like,
even to smile 14.
a. In the Palace
Different from Tom Canty, Prince Edward Tudor lives in a rich family, the richest family in England, because he is the son of King Henry VIII, the King of
England. He is the expected boy to be born to accede the throne of England. He is the son of King Henry VIII from his third wife, Jane Seymour. He is the younger
brother of Mary and Elisabeth, his step-sisters. In the 16
th
Century, the life of the nobles strongly showed their prosperity compared to the common citizen. The English Nobles lived in luxurious
surroundings, having great authority Of The Manner Of Building And Furniture Of Our Houses. In the novel Prince Edward Tudor lives in a neighbourhood
which is in the opposite of the Tom’s neighbourhood. He lives in a well-guarded palace. There are soldiers in front of every gate. “At each side of the gilded gate
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stood a living statue, that is to say, an erect and stately and motionless man-at- arms, clad from head to heel in shinning steel armor” 11. The safety is much
more guaranteed in the place where Prince Edward lives. Christmon’s Fashions: Women and Men describes the clothes of the nobles
were made from fine stuff. Their shoes, as an example, were generally made from fine leather. They were used to wear some accessories that also identified the
richer or the higher of the rank of the nobles. In the palace Prince Edward does not only furnished with finery, but also has a large number of glamorous clothes
and full of accessories. “Within was a comely boy, tanned and brown with sturdy outdoor sports and exercises, whose clothing was all of lovely silks and satins,
shinning with jewels; at his hip a little jewelled sword and dagger; dainty buskins on his feet with red heels; on his head a jaunty crimson cap, with drooping plumes
fastened with a great sparkling gem” 11. Christmon’s Banquets and Feasts describes their food also showed the
prosperity, the royalty and peasantry among society. They also got the finest food. The bread, as an example, that they ate was the best bread, which called manchet.
The nobles’ banquets were so big and they employed so many servants Of The Food And Diet Of The English. In the novel the food also speaks contrasting
things. While Tom Canty is suffering with “his limited food”, Prince Edward, well-served in his comfortable room in his palace, is eating the food that only
encountered by Tom in books that he reads when he learns to Father Andrew. “Edward took Tom to a rich apartment in the palace, which he called his cabinet.
By his command a repast was brought such as Tom had never encountered before except in books” 13.
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In the novel, Mark Twain describes Prince Edward as a good-hearted person, just like as Tom Canty. That is why Edward, Prince of Wales, does not
like to see his father’s subjects being humiliated. The Prince gets angry when he sees a soldier acts rudely to his subjects. “…the young prince sprang to the gate
with his face flushed, and his eyes flashing with indignation, cried out: “How dar’st thou use a poor lad like that How dar’st thou use the king my father’s
meanest subject so Open the gates, and let him in” 12. The Prince hates the violence and considers it as a disgusting thing. “Peace It was a shameful thing
and a cruel” 17. The Prince also astonished when he heard that Tom often get some beatings from his grandmother. “A fierce look acme into the little prince’s
eyes, and he cried out: “What Beatings?” 14. The mild-mannered of the Prince not only makes him hate any violence
upon his subjects, but also shows that the Prince also cares about his subjects. “Thou lokest tired and hungry; thou’st been treated ill. Come with me” 12. The
Prince also cares about the condition of his subjects’ life, he asks Tom Canty about his life. “…hast thou a pleasant life there?” 15. When Edward hears that Tom’s
twin sisters have no clothes but one that they wear, he sends his servants to give the clothes to them. “But thy good Nan and thy Bet shall have raiment and lackeys
enow, and that soon, too: my cofferer shall look to it” 15. He wants to know whether his subjects also have a good life or not.
Edward Tudor never underestimates other people. Mark Twain delivers the Prince’s character traits very smoothly, especially this character traits. Mark
Twain describes when the prince has a conversation with Tom Canty, suddenly the Prince remembers something which is annoying him. “The Lady Elizabeth, my
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sister, is fourteen, and the Lady Jane Grey, my cousin, is of my own age, and comely and gracious withal; but my sister the Lady Mary, with her gloomy mien
and – Look you: do thy sisters forbid their servants to smile, lest the sin destroy their souls?” 14. From this quotation, it can be seen that prince Edward does not
like what his sister Lady Mary does that is forbidding her servants even to smile. He does not agree even he refuses to treat his servants so. He treats them as his
meanest person. Just like as Tom Canty, the Prince is also a person who is full of curiosity.
When the Prince listens to the story of Tom Canty more and more about the life and the freedom that Tom Canty has, the Prince becomes more interested. His
curiosity encourages him to get an idea to exchange his position with Tom Canty and this character will bring him into an adventure that leads him to be a good
King later.
b. Outside the Palace
