Who am I? What am I? Where do I come from? These are all questions that philosophers have been asking for centuries. These are the big questions of life. Even though it's a kids' book, The Prince and the Pauper doesn't shy away from asking these tough questions. What makes a person a prince or a pauper? Is it clothes, money, customs? The novel doesn't really give us any straight answers, but we sure get a fun ride while trying to sort it all out.
Questions About Identity
- How does Tom's identity change, if at all, throughout The Prince and the Pauper? What about Edward's identity?
- How much of a person's identity is determined by how other people treat them in The Prince and the Pauper?
- The whole story of The Prince and the Pauper is a case of mistaken identity. What do you think identity means in this novel? What exactly is mistaken?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The essential part of a person's identity never changes in The Prince and the Pauper.
Changing identity is as easy as changing clothes in The Prince and the Pauper.