‘Riper Years’
John Locke illuminates, “Thus much for the settling your authority over the children in general. Fear and awe ought to give you the first power of their minds, love and friendship in riper years to hold it; for the time must come, when they will be past the rod and correction.” The ‘riper years’ are illustrative of the advanced age beyond which the parents cannot alter their children’s self-control through the rod. Such advanced age obliges the parents to be sociable with their children for them to inspire them favorably.
‘Slavish discipline’
John Locke expounds, “Such sort of slavish discipline makes a slavish temper. The Child submits, and dissembles obedience, whilst the fear of the rod hangs over him, but when that is removed, and by being out of sight, he can promise impunity.” The “slavish discipline” is figurative of the life-threatening punishment which makes children to begrudge their parents. Such disciplinary machinery inspires the children to participate indiscipline particularly when they are not under their parent’s surveillance. The children consciously become roguish as a way to retaliate their parents’ slavery.
