The Prince and the Pauper: Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

Back at the palace, Tom continues admiring himself in the mirror. He looks at himself in the fine clothes from every angle, fingers the jewels, tries all the chairs in the apartment, and wonders what the boys back at Offal Court would think if they could see him. After about half an hour, Tom begins to get worried about how long Edward has been gone and what will happen to him if he’s found there. Tom decides to go find Edward himself but he runs back into the room after the servants bow to him. Moments later, Lady Jane Grey comes in. She bounds forward a few steps but she stops when she notices the look on Tom’s face. Tom drops to his knee, tells Jane his name, and asks if she can get Edward to give back Tom’s clothes so he can go home. Startled by his manner, Jane runs out.

After Jane leaves, a rumor starts circulating around the palace that the prince has gone mad. King Henry VIII issues a proclamation forbidding anyone to talk about it. Two noblemen lead Tom into an apartment. Inside, Tom sees a large man with a bandaged leg sitting on a cushion. Henry asks if Tom is trying to trick him, his father, even though Henry loves him. Tom drops to a knee and says he’s “undone.” Henry, alarmed, says the rumors must be true and he asks Tom (“child”) to come forward to “thy father.” Henry asks if Tom recognizes him and Tom answers that he’s the king. Henry is comforted and he says the madness must have passed. He asks Tom if he knows himself and if he will stop telling people he’s someone else. Tom says he told the truth—that he’s a pauper and he’s there by mistake—and he begs Henry not to have him killed.

Henry says that Tom isn’t going to be killed. Tom is grateful and he asks if he can go. Henry asks him why he doesn’t stay a little while. Tom says he meant to go back to the “kennel” where he was born and raised and he begs the king to set him free. Henry thinks for a moment, wondering if his son is only mad in one area, and he decides to test him. Henry asks Tom a question in Latin, and Tom answers—although not quite as Edward might. Still, Henry takes this as proof that there’s hope for the boy’s sanity. When Tom can’t answer a question in French, however, Henry is distraught. Henry asks Tom to come to him and he assures Tom that he’ll be well again. Henry tells everyone in the room that the prince is mad but that he is still heir to the throne.

Henry says he wants to “install[]” the prince the next day. Hertford reminds Henry about a man—the Hereditary Great Marshal—who’s being held in the Tower. Irritated, Henry says this shouldn’t prevent him from installing the prince. In fact, Henry orders that the man, Norfolk, should be executed the next day. Hertford replies that Henry’s word is law. Henry asks Tom to kiss him. Tom says Henry is kind, but he hates to think of Norfolk’s execution. Henry comments that his son has always had a big heart but he insists that Tom not feel too bad about it. Tom mourns the fact that he’s the reason Norfolk’s life will be cut short. Again, Henry tells Tom not to think of it and he tells Hertford to take Tom out of the room. As they leave, Tom’s spirit sinks—he feels like a captive and he is haunted by the idea of Norfolk’s imminent demise.