The Whipping Boy

“Prince Brat knew that he had nothing to fear. He had never been spanked in his life.”

This quote introduces the connection between Prince Horace’s bad behavior and the context in which he grows up. Because of his privileged position as royalty, Prince Horace is never punished, no matter how badly he behaves. This lack of consequences leads him to become more arrogant and entitled.

“It’s no fun if you don’t bawl!”

Prince Horace is visibly bothered by Jemmy’s lack of reaction whenever the “whipping boy” takes a beating on his behalf. Jemmy is suffering but doesn’t cry out, which makes the prince angry. This quote shows that Prince Horace takes pleasure in the suffering of others, and sets the stage for later character development. It also establishes the boys’ dynamic, one in which Jemmy finds subtle ways to regain power and control.

“The prince learned nothing. The whipping boy learned to read, write, and do sums.”

This quote reveals Jemmy and Prince Horace’s contrasting opinions on the value of education. Because Prince Horace is spoiled, he doesn’t see the value of learning new skills. Jemmy’s life on the streets has taught him the value of being resilient, adaptable, and making the most of any situation. Even in his unhappy life as a whipping boy, he seizes the opportunity to benefit from the prince’s tutors. The contrast in the boys’ education sets the stage for a reversal of class dynamics, as upper-class characters tend to be more educated (due to their resources).