Content Warning: The Whipping Boy includes physical punishment of children and uses outdated terminology for Romani people. There is also a mention of animal betting and fights in Chapter 18.

The Whipping Boy opens by introducing Prince Horace, who has a bad reputation for unpleasant behavior; he is widely disliked, and “not even black cats would cross his path” (1). Because of this reputation, he goes by the nickname Prince Brat. One night, during a feast, the prince causes mischief by tearing the wigs off the heads of the many guests. His father, the King, is furious. Because the prince cannot be beaten or whipped, a servant boy named Jemmy serves as his whipping boy. Jemmy doesn’t like his life in the castle and misses his days on the streets.

Jemmy is subjected to physical punishment on Prince Horace’s behalf. The prince becomes annoyed when Jemmy doesn’t react to the pain and complains that if Jemmy doesn’t cry the next time he is beaten, he will send him back to the streets.

The next morning, Jemmy looks forward to his first beating. He hopes that he will annoy Prince Horace by refusing to cry, and then will be free to leave, happily “back in rags” (5).