How did the concept of a whipping boy reflect societal views on punishment?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Whipping Boy
The concept of a whipping boy, a child punished in place of a prince, reflected societal views on punishment by highlighting the belief in noble privilege and the separation of social classes. It illustrated the idea that the elite were above physical punishment, while the innocent suffered for their misdeeds, reinforcing notions of justice and accountability within hierarchical structures.