The caning incident (chapter 7)

The caning incident in chapter 7 sheds light on what is going on inside the Haywards’ and at the same time it gives us a new insight into Keith's character and behaviour.

When Mr. Hayward utters the word “thermos”, Keith turns red and understands he is being accused of a crime he cannot even identify. Little by little, we see how he suffers as he understands that the thermos flask is missing and his father thinks he has taken it. He can only limit himself to look at the ground, as he knows that even when he speaks the truth: “I didn´t take it”, he won't be believed. His defencelessness in this section of the novel offers a striking contrast with the leading role he takes in his relationship with Keith in other chapters.

The dramatic irony of the passage makes the moment tense and enhances our sympathy for Keith. Both Stephen and we-readers- realise that Mrs Hayward is the one who is responsible for taking the thermos so we perceive the unfairness of the situation and we pity Keith.

Keith is finally given what we assume is the standard punishment, as Mr Hayward says:

“You know what you're going to get, old bean” What particularly strikes us is the fact that Keith is sent to wash the rest of white cleaner from his hands to get them properly caned: “Wash that stuff off your hands. Dry them properly” All along, Keith's father seems to act in cold blood. He looks calm and smiles, and never loses his composure.

The caning is not described as Stephen doesn't witness it. All that comes from the house is silence, so we are left to use our imagination to fill it. We are only told about the painful result of it: “Keith reappears. The redness in his cheeks has turned blotchy. His hands are pressed beneath his armpits.”

Mrs Hayward menaces with repeating the punishment until the thermos flask reappears: “I will give you until bedtime to think about it, if it´s not back by then you'll get the same again and again tomorrow. And so on every day until it´s back”. We see the cruelty beneath this menace because we know Keith is not responsible for its disappearance and cannot do anything to bring it back.

The whole incident makes us change the way in which we view Keith. We discover he suffers physical abuse at home, and that Stephen's idealisation of the Haywards as the perfect family is very far from the truth. It also gives us a new insight into the character of Mr Hayward. Now we understand that his authority is  sustained by violence and the abuse of power. That is why the sharpening of the bayonet at the end of this part is such a frightening event: We fear Mr Hayward may use it against a member of his own household.