"The Whipping," a poem by Robert Hayden, is about a young boy being abused by an older woman. Furthermore, the narrator of the poem is a nearby neighbor who is witnessing the action. While watching the violence unfold before his or her eyes, the neighbor relays his or her own personal memories of being a victim of abuse. Considering the poem's outline summary, the theme of "The Whipping" does deal with abuse, pain, and suffering. The text communicates this theme by using many devices, such as imagery, tone, alliteration, and consonance.
The most obvious literary device in the poem uses is imagery. A few examples of said imagery are "[h]is tears are rainy weather," "crippling fat," and "bony vise of knees" (7, 11, 13). All of these phrases force one's the senses to be depressingly or disturbingly aroused. "[T]ears are rainy weather" triggers the sense of sound, sight, and touch (7). The imagery describes the young boy's outpour of tears and misery. "[C]rippling fat" allures the sense of sight. This use of imagery negatively portrays the older woman and automatically gives her a villain persona (11). A "bony vise of knees" treats the senses of sight and touch (13). This quote is from the narrator's own painful experience and also gives bestows an off-putting cold-hearted, frosty description. The imagery throughout the text is able to convey the stinging emotions caused by cruelty and exploitation. .
Tone is another basic device used to convey the theme of "The Whipping." "The Whipping" also has tone, which is another basic device used to convey the theme. "The Whipping['s]" tone is also able to convey the theme.Some instances of tone examples of tone from the text are "woundlike memories," "no longer knew or loved," and "leans muttering" (12, 18, 21).