The Emperor's New Clothes

“Not only were their colors and patterns uncommonly fine, but clothes made of this cloth had a wonderful way of becoming invisible to anyone who was unfit for his office, or who was unusually stupid.”

The fabric’s supposed magical qualities are described as being able to reveal an individual’s social status. Only the social elite or truly intelligent should be able to glimpse the fabric. These qualities establish the grounds on which Andersen will satirically comment on the arbitrary nature of social hierarchy and intellectual superiority.

“[The emperor] felt slightly uncomfortable when he remembered that those who were unfit for their position would not be able to see the fabric. It couldn’t have been that he doubted himself, yet he thought he’d rather send someone else to see how things were going.”

The emperor remains proud but is beginning to experience self-doubt. He fears being unable to see the weavers’ fabric and being exposed as a “fool” or an unfit ruler. Rather than trusting his own powers of perception, he decides to send a member of his court in his place. This action is self-serving, and the emperor acts as a model for the kingdom. This selfish behavior trickles down to his trusted officials and to the city at large.

“He couldn’t see anything, because there was nothing to see. ‘Heaven have mercy,’ he thought. ‘Can it be that I’m a fool? I’d have never guessed it, and not a soul must know. Am I unfit to be the minister? It would never do to let on that I can’t see the cloth.”

The minister sees that the looms are empty. Despite holding an honorable rank within the aristocracy, he is characterized here as a dishonest and insecure man. Rather than admitting that he sees nothing, or challenging the weavers, he pretends to see in order to protect his station. Just like the emperor, he acts in his own self-interests and perpetuates the weavers’ lie.

“[The swindlers] proceeded to name all the colors and to explain the intricate pattern. The old minister paid the closest attention, so that he could tell it all to the emperor. And so he did.”

The minister recycles the words of the weavers when reporting back to the emperor. Rather than reporting honestly about what he saw on the looms, he is completely reliant on the words of others, selfishly protecting himself and his station. This action is a critique of those who pass on traditional or mistaken knowledge without thinking critically for themselves.

“He found them weaving with might and main, but without a thread in their looms.”

The swindlers pretend to be hard at work despite the emptiness of their labor. This can be read as a commentary on the nature of lies and those who lie. Despite the appearance of honesty, there is nothing of substance behind their efforts. It is remarkably simple for the swindlers to manipulate the emperor and his followers because their core values are self-interested. The people in the capital city are not critical thinkers and are not communicative with one another.

“‘Just look, Your Majesty, what colors! What a design!’ They pointed to the empty looms, each supposing that the others could see the stuff.”

Conformity, pride, and greed compel the noblemen to lie vehemently about being able to see the fabric. Each man fears being exposed as the only one not to see anything. The tragic irony of this scene is that the weavers’ lies could be undone if any one person spoke the truth, but each nobleman feels they have too much to lose by doing so.

“‘What’s this?’ thought the emperor. ‘I can’t see anything. This is terrible! Am I a fool? Am I unfit to be the emperor? What a thing to happen to me of all people! – Oh! It’s very pretty,’ he said. ‘It has my highest approval’.”

The emperor reacts with fear and self-doubt upon realizing that the looms are empty. Rather than speaking the truth, he too capitulates to the lie. This effectively renders his power as emperor useless. As the ruler of the land, he could restore order by speaking the truth. However, he is too afraid of nonconformity to speak out.

“One saw no more than another, but they all joined the emperor in exclaiming, ‘Oh! It’s very pretty,’ and they all advised him to wear clothes made of this wonderful cloth especially for the great procession he was soon to lead.”

Once the emperor lies about being able to see the fabric, his noblemen are emboldened to praise the fabric even more. This moment is symbolic of how ideas can be strengthened over time without evidence. Simply by repeating the lie, it grows even more powerful.

“The emperor gave each of the swindlers a cross to wear in his buttonhole, and the title of ‘Sir Weaver.’”

Social prestige is bestowed upon the swindlers despite their obvious lies. This can be read as a satirical critique of the nature of aristocracy and power. The swindlers are elevated to a higher social rank despite being visitors entirely undeserving of such an honor.

“They said, ‘These are the trousers, here’s the coat, and this is the mantle,’ naming each garment. ‘All of them are as light as a spider web. One would almost think he had nothing on, but that’s what makes them so fine.’”

The swindlers need to expand on their initial lie in order to maintain believability throughout the procession. This moment is suggestive of the way traditionally-held beliefs can become warped over time. A new justification is required to explain why the emperor cannot feel his new garments, and the emperor does not challenge it.

“‘Well, I’m supposed to be ready,’ the emperor said, and turned again for one last look in the mirror. ‘It is a remarkable fit, isn’t it?’ He seemed to regard his costume with the greatest interest.”

The emperor has a final opportunity to speak the truth, but he instead puts greater effort into convincing himself that his outfit is real. This could have been a crucial moment of anagnorisis, in which the emperor recognizes that he has been deceived. That realization goes unfulfilled, however, setting up his humiliation during the ensuing procession.

“The noblemen who were to carry his train stopped low and reached for the floor as if they were picking up his mantle. Then they pretended to lift and hold it high. They didn’t dare admit they had nothing to hold.”

This passage shows the extent to which the lie has taken hold of the emperor and his noblemen. They are going beyond simply pretending to see the fabric; they are now pretending to feel and hold the fabric in their hands. This passage highlights again how mistaken ideas can become strengthened over time the longer they are held onto.

“Everyone in the streets and the windows said, ‘Oh, how fine are the emperor’s new clothes! Don’t they fit him to perfection […] Nobody would confess that he couldn’t see anything, for that would prove him either unfit for his position or a fool.”

The self-deception is no longer limited just to the emperor and his noblemen. It is now spread to the general population. This moment is a major illustration of the theme of Conformity Versus Nonconformity in the story. The entire city is unwilling to speak the truth for fear of being perceived as foolish.