At the beginning of The Whipping Boy, Prince Horace is an arrogant and cruel boy. To what extent is he to blame for his bad behavior, and to what extent is he a product of his environment? Why do you think his father might have agreed to the practice of a whipping boy rather than punishing the prince directly?

Why does Prince Horace run away, and why does he insist that Jemmy join him? Are the prince’s hopes for a new life realistic? Is it surprising that the prince wants to run away, even though he seemingly lives a life of luxury and privilege?

What factors make it possible for Prince Horace and Jemmy to eventually become friends? What do they end up having in common, despite their different backgrounds? Are there any barriers or differences that would have made it impossible for the boys to trust and respect each other?