Comments | little_details: whipping/flogging as corporal punishment

thistlerose in little_details

whipping/flogging as corporal punishment - how to stage realistically?

Mar 03, 2011 11:23

I'm working on a story in which one character (Character A) is compelled to physically discipline another (Character B), using some sort of flogger or whip. The characters in question are two able-bodied men in their late twenties / early thirties. They're both physically fit and approximately the same height.

( Cut for mild descriptions of violence. )

~flogging, ~torture, ~medicine: injuries to order

Comments 24

sineala March 5 2011, 07:26:09 UTC

What weapons are realistically available in your setting? I'd guess that something shorter would be easier to use, because the shorter it gets it is really easier to aim. Cat o' nine tails? (I haven't used one myself; I'm just guessing.) If you're not committed to something very whiplike, maybe a cane? I hear canes are pretty good for marking.

When you say "not proficient," how not-proficient are you envisioning? Because hitting things with other things actually does take some practice, and I say this as someone who has accidentally hit herself in the face with a riding crop more than once. (I don't recommend it.)

Can't help with the other question, sorry.

thistlerose March 5 2011, 14:22:14 UTC

Thank you!

Ack, I forgot to mention the setting. This is science fiction, set on another world, which I'm still developing. A & B are human, and they're trying to negotiate some sort of peace treaty with this race of people who are very strict in terms of discipline, and their leader is a bit of a sadist. B speaks out of turn, so the leader of this alien race insists that A punish him or he won't sign the treaty.

A is actually quite skilled at hand to hand combat, and probably a number of weapons. He's very clever and well-coordinated, but he's never had any reason or desire to beat another person.

I was thinking of a whip because then there might be scarring (gotta heap the guilt on Character A!) but I can see the leader carrying a cane or some other kind of blunt instrument.

smillaraaq March 5 2011, 17:13:51 UTC

Hmmm, if there are bound to be weapons of various sorts about, perhaps one of the characters might be carrying a ceremonial sword with a thin, flexible unsharpened blade similar to a modern fencing foil? That would probably handle a lot like a flexible rattan cane in terms of pain and damage produced if used for striking blows with the flat...

laughinggas13 March 5 2011, 18:18:08 UTC

I can attest to the fact that flat hits with a fencing foil hurt a lot! And these were just playful swiping at me as I walked past - I'd hate to think how much an intentionally painful blow would hurt.

Thread 5

monissaw March 5 2011, 08:44:53 UTC

"Half a hundred" was a serious punishment with a cat.

Somewhere I have a photocopied chapter from a book describing the after effects of floggings (sent to me by my local library even) but I have no idea where it is now. If you think it might be useful, I can go and search for it.

thistlerose March 5 2011, 14:31:23 UTC

If it's not too much bother, that would be wonderful!

carlyinrome March 5 2011, 09:51:09 UTC

I agree with sineala about the cane; the less an implement gives, and the smaller the point of impact is, the more of a mark it leaves. I've gotten my worst marks from a cane, because they don't give much on impact, and the point of impact is so narrow. Additionally, a cane is easy to wield in that you probably wouldn't injure yourself with it, but true proficiency takes practice, so you could have Character B more injured than he typically would be given a caning, just due to Character A's lack of practice. And with a caning there will be kind of a lag time between when the raw pain from the punishment itself and the pain of the after effects -- bruising, etc. -- kicks in, which might make him think he doesn't need medical attention right away.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck!

stormwreath March 5 2011, 14:33:35 UTC

Consulting my Age of Sail reference books about flogging in the Royal Navy ( ... )

draike March 5 2011, 18:59:27 UTC

I'm not the OP but I wanted to say thank you! This is very helpful for my own story. :)

tears_of_nienna March 5 2011, 19:20:12 UTC

Also not the OP, but this is great info! It's given me a good idea of how to make my Age of Sail AU work. Thanks!

sineala March 5 2011, 21:27:53 UTC

This had better be Pros. :)

rhiannon_s March 5 2011, 17:02:22 UTC

this might help, check out the scene from 2.25 to the 5 minute mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FJ-NfF-dVA

It is from one of the Sharpe tv episodes, based on the books by Bernard Cornwell, the level of research and realism is quite high.