The Contrast between Tom's and Edward's Life as Seen in The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain

*It is just an introduction of my research

1.1. Background of Choosing the Subject

The story in The Prince and the Pauper is unique especially concerning to both main characters, Tom Canty and the Prince Edward Tudor. For example, the part of the story when they exchange their identity—it is when The Prince Edward decides to tries to live in Tom's life (in the poor family) and Tom who also has a dream to live as a Prince (in the rich family)—is unique because the exchange of their identity is something strange, it is done by the pauper and the Prince. In this case, Twain wants to show that in his The Prince and the Pauper the poor and the rich could exchange their identity, and he wants to express that the life of the pauper and the Prince in the real world is contrast and cannot be exchanged.

It is also unique that the poor person could be the Prince of Wales. He could order the servants to do whatever he wants. In this case, Twain is creative to disguise the poor Tom not to be recognized as Tom, but the only Prince of Wales. Probably that is one of the reasons that he puts the character of Father Andrew to teach Tom Latin, and to teach Tom how to read and write, and also to tell Tom the story of the Prince which later makes him dream to be the Prince and act like the Prince so that he can disguise his identity.

About the identity of Tom and Edward, the present writer is interested to examine the contrast between both characters. In this paper, the focus is on the contrast between their both lives; Edward Tudor as The Prince must have an educated and clean life whereas Tom Canty is a poor and dirty. Nevertheless, it is not finished yet because to find out more about their contrast life the present writer must explore the plot of the novel. The present writer must search many aspects of their contrast life. In addition, to get deeper analysis about their contrast life, the present writer also provides one question to be answered in this research. It is “What are their true purposes to exchange their identity? What do they feel after living in their previous and current life (i.e. in their rich and poor)? and “How they resolve their problems in their false identity (e.g., Tom’s fear of his false identity to be recognized, Edward’s adaptation to Tom’s cruel family, and etcetera)?”

1.2. Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are:
1. to find out the aspects that show their contrast life,
2. to examine what they feel with living in their previous and current family: in their poor and rich family,
3. to examine the purposes of their exchanging identity, and
4. to find out how they resolve each of their problems in their false identity (e.g., Tom’s fear of his false identity to be recognized, Edward’s adaptation to Tom’s cruel family, and etcetera).

1.3. Focus of Examination
In line with the objectives of this study, the focus of examination is on their contrast life. The present writer would like to see and find out the kinds of contrast life they have such as the economic level, lifestyle, education, and etcetera. Besides, the present writer is eager about their feeling towards their previous and current life it is before or after their exchanging identity (i.e., Edwards wants to tries live in Tom’s poor family and Tom who also has desire to be the Prince in Edward rich family). Also, the present writer wonders about their purposes to exchange their identity, and the present writer wonders about how they resolve their problem in their false identity which is Edward faces Tom’s cruel family, and Tom is afraid about his false identity to be recognized, and etcetera.

1.4. Scope of Study
In line with the focus of examination, the present writer emphasizes or limits the investigation on the plot, and Tom’s and Edward’s character and characterization. To achieve or resolve the objectives of this study the present writer also connects their both life to the society and their family in the story. Therefore, the investigation of this paper is just within the text itself.

1.5. Theoretical Approach
Since the investigation of this paper focuses on the text itself, thus the application of formalism is necessary for the analysis of this paper. In this case, the present writer refers to the Russian Formalism.

Russian Formalism is the name of a group of literary scholars and linguistics—such as Osip Brik, Boris Eikhenbaum, Roman Jakobson, and etcetera—who develop a series of innovative theoretical concepts, claims, models, and methodological norms concerning various aspects of the literary system and its study between 1916 and 1929 (“Russian Formalism”).
The Russian Formalists emphasize on the form; they refer to the general nature of literature and literary devices (Habib, Modern Literary Criticism and Theory 603).

In line with the Russian Formalists who emphasize the formalism on the form, Tyson in his Critical Theory of Today: A User-Friendly Guide says that the formal elements of literary works are the images, symbols, metaphors, rhyme, meter, point of view, setting, characterization, plot, and so forth (137). Those formal elements are important to be understood in this research, particularly the three formal elements such as the plot, the character, and the characterization. It is because they are worth to reveal the contrast life between Tom and Edward, and reveal the evidences to answer the questions of the present writer which is mentioned earlier.

1.6. Method of Research
The method used in this study is a library research. The sources are taken from the written materials in the library. The primary data of this research is the literary work itself. The secondary data source is derived from many literary books and some relevant materials to support and to complete the primary data source such as searching on the internet.