MovieChat Forums > The Terror (2018) Discussion > "30 Lashes as a Boy"

"30 Lashes as a Boy"

posted 7 years ago by whynotwriteme (7720)
13 replies | jump to latest

Was this leniency from Frazier to Hickey or was it worse punishment?

You would think being whipped on the ass was less damaging than being whipped on the back, plus, surely the British Navy did not punish boys worse than they punished grown men?

However perhaps it would be more insulting for a grown man to be whipped "as a boy"? Perhaps the others of the crew would look down on Hickey for it?

I was not clear on this whole thing, as it seemed from the presentation of the lead-up that Frazier was sentencing Hickey to a worse punishment, although when it was done it seemed it would be less physically damaging overall.

[–] desepticon (166) 7 years ago

My take was that is was supposed to be humiliating.

[–] Skullomania (483) 7 years ago

I thought it was because he knew he was gay (or bi) but turning a blind eye? Since Hickey couldn't keep his mouth shut like Crozier had he had him punished in a way to let Hickey know he should have kept his trap shut like he had about Hickey?

Or maybe I'm looking too much into it.

[–] JH66 (143) 7 years ago

Designed to humiliate.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

didn't seem to work

[–] myystk (374) 7 years ago

do they show this in the show? I hate watching movies/shows from back in the day with this

[–] swishin48 (30) 7 years ago

The whipping is shown and it lasts long. The atmosphere of the show is very creepy and I would highly recommend it though. You can always skip the scene.

[–] myystk (374) 7 years ago

i think ill skip this episode. thank you!

[–] zeesha (1826) 7 years ago

Crozier punished Hickey in that way to weaken Hickey's authority among his group.

[–] Jehosaphet (1063) 7 years ago

Wait, I thought the difference was that regular whipping was on your back, whipped like a boy meant you pulled down your pants and got it on the back and ass. Because that's what happened, right? Most definitely a more severe punishment, it seemed like.

[–] zeesha (1826) 7 years ago

Right. I thought everyone got that - it was a punishment plus humiliation. What I mean is that Captain Crozier's intention to punish Hickey in the humiliating way in front of his potential gang is to undermine his leadership.

[–] BenStrousers (776) 7 years ago

It would be pretty humiliating to be punished "as a boy" when you are a grown man. I'm guessing that is the reason.

[–] McQualude (4231) 7 years ago

A ship's boy was a literal boy, taken off the streets and given a job and were lowest on the totem pole. They were punished by spanking instead of being whipped like a sailor. I assume the Captain treated Hickey like a boy because of his immature behavior.

[–] Daisy (3024) 7 years ago

I think it would be more of a humiliating experience being whipped "like a boy" in front of all the others. It probably did make the other crew look down on him or pity him which each is equally bad.