78 pages • 2 hours read
The Whipping Boy
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Character Analysis
Jemmy
Jemmy is the protagonist of The Whipping Boy, and events are narrated from his perspective. Readers have access to Jemmy’s inner thoughts and feelings throughout the story. Jemmy is a young boy who grew up in poverty, living a “ragged but carefree life” (2) as the son of a rat-catcher. While the details are unclear, at some point, Jemmy came to live in the castle to serve as Prince Horace’s whipping boy. At the beginning of the novel, Jemmy is largely unhappy with his fate, and longs to go back to the streets.
Jemmy has many heroic traits, but also deploys them in unusual ways. He is brave, intelligent, and resilient. Whenever he is beaten or whipped on Prince Horace’s behalf, he never cries out in pain: He is “determined never to spring a tear for the prince to gloat over” (4). Jemmy can likely tolerate physical pain because he grew up exposed to discomfort, and is also stubborn. He shows his intelligence and resourcefulness by rapidly learning all the lessons that the royal tutors intend for the prince: He “learned to read, write, and do sums” (6). Jemmy’s intelligence and quick wits are particularly prominent once he and the prince are confronted with their antagonists, Billy and Cutwater. He finds that even in dangerous circumstances, “a scheme had leaped into his head” (20). Jemmy can trick the criminals into confusing his and Prince Horace’s identities; he does so by mimicking the mannerisms and speech patterns of a royal. This behavior shows that, in addition to thinking on his feet, Jemmy is adaptable.
Jemmy’s character evolves over the course of the novel: He becomes more self-aware and sympathetic to Prince Horace. Initially, Jemmy justifiably dislikes the prince, and wants to get away from him. He often thinks of the prince in derogatory ways, such as referring to him as someone who “didn’t have the sense of a gnat” (21) or “enough to give the devil himself fits!” (34). However, Jemmy slowly becomes more caring and sympathetic to Prince Horace. When he thinks about leaving the prince alone, Jemmy worries that “left to himself, he’d starve” (51). He also comes to understand that the prince is not inherently a bad person—just someone who is lonely and spoiled.
While Jemmy changes his opinion of Prince Horace, he also develops a deeper sense of self-understanding. Jemmy initially insists that he wants to go back to life on the streets, but eventually comes to realize that “in the sewers, he hadn’t been aware of his own ignorance […] he’d lost his taste for ignorance” (66). His development largely happens during his time at the castle, studying alongside the prince, but he only recognizes this transformation during his adventures. Jemmy’s development as a character leads him to return to where he started, living in the castle, but with a new perspective and sense of peace.
Prince Horace/Prince Brat
Prince Horace is an important secondary character who often serves as a foil to Jemmy. Readers don’t have access to the inner world of the prince, so they must make assumptions based on his actions and words. As a result, the prince’s feelings and motives are often unclear. Prince Horace grows up in luxury; he seems to be the king’s only son and is expected to someday inherit and rule the kingdom. He triggers the inciting action of the plot by running away from the castle and insisting that Jemmy join him. The action of the plot climaxes when the prince returns to the castle, having completed his journey of personal transformation.
Prince Horace matures over the course of the novel. At the beginning of the story, the prince is entitled, selfish, and rude. He plays obnoxious pranks and stubbornly refuses to learn, arguing that “I can always get someone to write my name for me” (6). Prince Horace also runs away without any regard for the upheaval this will cause, and remains insistent on not returning to the castle—even though this decision risks both him and Jemmy. Even when Jemmy tries to plan an escape, the prince refuses to play along and argues that “I’ll do what I choose” (33). The prince’s self-absorption is particularly destructive because of his status and influence; the choices he makes impact not just himself, but other people, and potentially even the fate of the kingdom.
Prince Horace’s motives become clearer as the novel progresses. He reveals his loneliness when he enviously asks Jemmy, “did you have lots of friends when you lived on the streets” (49), and voices his belief that his father doesn’t care about him. The prince acts out because he doesn’t think anyone truly cares about him; however, when characters like Jemmy and Betsey go out of their way to look out for him, he begins to show reciprocal care and respect. Prince Horace tells Jemmy that “I promise you my protection” (40), and sees to this promise at the end of the novel. In addition to the community he forms with other characters, the prince is significantly impacted by the general public’s distaste for him. The prince sadly asks Jemmy, “does everyone hate me?” (69), revealing that he does care about being liked and respected.
By the end of the novel, Prince Horace has become a more considerate and responsible individual. He shows vulnerability in the sewers, when he admits to Jemmy that he is frightened, and that he admires Jemmy’s courage. Later, the prince plays a pivotal role in securing their safety when he misleads Billy and Cutwater; he also ensures that Captain Nips and Betsey gain greater financial security. Not only does Prince Horace become kinder and more responsible, but he starts to display a newfound playfulness and sense of humor, leading Jemmy to realize that “for the first time the prince was up to a kindly piece of mischief” (86). The prince’s positive transformation has implications not just for himself, but the kingdom’s future.
Billy and Cutwater
Billy and Cutwater are two petty criminals, or cutthroats; they function as the antagonists of the novel. The two men are greedy, harsh, and violent; they calculate how they can use any situation to benefit themselves. Jemmy and Prince Horace are young and vulnerable, but Billy and Cutwater think only of how they can exploit the boys’ situation to make a profit. They threaten, and then employ, physical violence against the boys, showing that they are cruel. Billy and Cutwater are somewhat calculating, but they can also be obtuse. They are easily fooled and manipulated, even by young boys, and mostly rely on brute force to execute their plan to obtain a ransom for the prince.
Because of their lives as petty criminals, Billy and Cutwater cannot read or write; their lack of education and other options might explain why they have turned to crime. Although the two men don’t have many positive traits, they do seem to have a strong bond. They make all their plans together, act as a unit, and never seem worried about one betraying the other. This closeness is notable because it reinforces the novel’s message that relationships and community are important for everyone, whether they are royalty or petty criminals.
Billy and Cutwater are static characters who do not develop or grow over the course of the novel. They remain fixated on crime and potentially hurting Jemmy and Prince Horace. They receive an ironic punishment that reflects their overall incompetence when they attempt to flee the kingdom but end up sailing toward a convict island.
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