Dirt (allegory)
Dirt is an allegory of backwardness. Tom was born in the ugliest part of the city, “the gutters of London,” so he was closely familiar with “rags and dirt and misery”. The streets were “very narrow, and crooked, and dirty,” and what was more it was a rather dangerous place. For instance, Tom’s father, John Canty, was a thief and his mother a beggar. They made beggars of their children, too. Dirt and darkness were everywhere, especially in John’s heart and mind. Poor Tom managed to stay immune to the terrible influence of that place, for he was saved by the power of learning.
Rags (symbol)
Rags are a symbol of poverty. Poverty can be rather ugly, cruel and painful, since it could destroy even the most strong-willed person. “Poor rags” that served as clothing for the poorest residents were a sign of poverty. “Clothed in rags and profoundly ignorant” famished workers and beggars looked like a dirty mess. The Prince said, “Doff thy rags, and don these splendours, lad!” As soon as Tom got rid of “the bannered rags” he became a new person. Unfortunately, in the past it was next to impossible to change your social position. Beggars like Tom – clothed in worn-out and dirty rags – were not allowed to study, and thus were not permitted to enter the fine realm of society.
Swapping roles (motif)
Swapping roles is the main motif of the story. Tom got up “hungry” and “sauntered hungry away,” but his thoughts were about a different life. He wanted to be the Prince. Ironically enough, the Price wasn’t fond of his life either. He was simply bored, for the weight of the responsibilities was too heavy for the boy. The day he met Tom was a special one, for he got a chance to see a different side of London. He learned what hunger was, he saw injustice, and he found out that some people had only “one garment” that they wear for years. Tom had his lesson too. He saw that the Prince’s life was not as pleasant and careless as one might imagine it to be.
