One possible reason could be a lack of understanding and patience. The stepmother might be frustrated with the children not following her rules immediately. Another reason could be her own upbringing. If she was raised in a strict environment where spanking was seen as normal discipline, she might carry that over into her new family situation.
One possible reason could be to reflect historical parenting methods. In the past, spanking was more commonly used as a form of discipline, and stories might include it to show how things were. For example, in some period novels, such a scene might be included to give an accurate portrayal of the era's family dynamics.
Another possible reason is to contrast with the expected role of a caregiver. A landlady is in a position where she should be providing a safe and nurturing environment. By having her spank the children, it goes against this expectation and can be used to show a breakdown in the normal social order. It can also be a device to drive the plot forward, as the children may then try to escape or seek help, which can lead to a series of events that form the rest of the story.
It might be due to a lack of clear rules in their environment. If they are in a place where there are no strict guidelines on proper behavior, they may engage in such actions. Also, they could be trying to get attention in an improper way. For example, if they feel ignored, they might do something outlandish like this to draw focus to themselves.
Another reason is disrespect. For example, if a boy talks back rudely to his elders in a story. This is seen as a lack of respect for the family or community values. A spanking can be a traditional form of discipline to correct this behavior and teach the boy to be more polite and respectful. It's like a shock to his system that makes him realize he can't act that way. And often, it's accompanied by a talk about why respect is important so he understands the underlying values.
Well, in the stories, it could be that the neighbor women thought they were helping the parents. Maybe the parents were too lenient or not around to discipline the boys immediately. Also, sometimes in a small - town or village setting, there were traditional values about maintaining order. If a boy was causing trouble, like bullying other kids, the neighbor woman might have resorted to spanking to stop the bad behavior right away. But again, this is not acceptable behavior in today's world where we advocate for non - violent and more educational forms of discipline.
In some fictional stories, it might be used to create conflict or character development. The act of spanking by a woman could be a turning point for a boy character. It could make him resentful at first, but then lead to his growth and understanding of right and wrong. It can also show the complex relationship between the characters, like a strict aunt spanking her nephew, which can later lead to a more nuanced relationship as the boy matures.
One reason could be as a form of discipline. Just like in some traditional family - set stories, if the boy breaks a rule, the girl, who might be in a position of authority in that fictional setting, spanks him to teach him a lesson. Another reason could be in a competitive or rivalrous context, where the girl wants to show dominance over the boy and uses spanking as a way to assert herself.
One reason could be for creative expression. Just like in theater or art, wearing different types of clothes can help boys show a different side of themselves or a character they are portraying. For example, in a play where a boy plays a female role, the girl's clothes are necessary to bring the character to life.
One possible reason could be that they are simply playing a rough and inappropriate game. Maybe they saw something similar on TV or from other kids and thought it was fun without realizing it's not acceptable behavior. Another reason might be that they are having a conflict and in a childish way, they resorted to spanking each other as a form of retaliation.
Often, in traditional tales, women punished boys with spanking to maintain order. In a large family or a school setting, if a boy was being disobedient or causing chaos, spanking by a female figure was thought to be a deterrent. Also, it was sometimes used to uphold the reputation of the family or the institution. For example, if a boy misbehaved in a way that could bring shame, a strict mother or governess might spank him to set an example for others. However, these views are now considered archaic in modern society.