Analysis of The Whipping by Robert Hayden?

Answer 1

The first stanza talks about an elderly woman, who is whipping "the boy" again. The poem does not specifically mention whether or not the woman is the boy's mother or not, although it can be implied. The again added nonchalantly makes the reader aware that this is not an unusual occurrence. Then, the woman shouts as she whips him her goodness and his wrongs, although she is seemingly in the wrong for beating him (the woman is hypocritical)

The second stanza describes how even though he crashes through what is inferred as her flower garden, she pursues him, ignoring the physical limitations of her obesity. (elephant ears and zinnias imply the garden)

The third stanza further continues the beating, and then the speaker of the poem (not the poet, which is a mistake often made) sympathizes with the boy. His tears are like rain on his wound-like memories.

The fourth stanza is the beginning of said "wound-like" memory. He remembers his head gripped in a bony vise of knees, and all of the painful imagery shows how vivid a memory it is for him as he struggles for freedom from the blows.

The fifth stanza continues the memory from the fourth acknowledging that the fear from the blows were worse than blows of hateful words. From "the face that I / no longer knew or loved . . ." it can be seen that the speaker had once loved the person beating him whether it was his own mother or not is not mentioned, but it is often assumed from the content of the poem.

Then, he states the controversial phrase "Well, it is over now, it is over, and the boy sobs in his room." This is controversial because of the sixth stanza.

In the sixth stanza, the woman is tired from beating the boy and is "avenged in part for lifelong hidings she has had to bear." This shows that the reason for her beating the struggling child is a result of her own beating, which establishes the concept that people who are beaten turn to beat others when they are older.

The broader concept of those who are hurt tend to hurt others is thus explored.

Can it be said that the speaker would not beat his own child? No. He sympathizes with the woman saying she is avenged, so would he not also feel avenged for the wrongs committed against him by beating another?