MovieChat Forums > A Christmas Story (1983) Discussion > Do you think Ralphie got off easily with...

Do you think Ralphie got off easily with his punishment?

posted 6 years ago by csweetleaf2 (3676)
23 replies | jump to latest

I think Ralphie got off quite easily compared to Schwartz when he'd gotten in trouble for mentioning "Fudge" when the mother put the bar of soap in his mouth and sends him to bed after he accuses Schwartz of where he heard "Fudge" from

I thought Schwartz getting abused by his mother after she finds out it was Schwartz who mentioned "Fudge", it makes me wonder if Schwartz's mother has anger issues or not.

I wish they would've showed a scene of Schwartz crying to Ralphie and Flick about the abuse he received from his mother the next day.

[–] strntz (12353) 6 years ago

Well, I think mom was the disciplinarian in that family, despite the old man's bluster.

Mom may have believed that Ralphie could have heard Schwartz say it, but she also knew that had heard his father utter the queen mother of all dirty words many times, so maybe mom let him off easy.

By today's standards, Schwartz was "abused". When I was a kid, I got whaled on by my mother with a wooden kitchen spoon often as did my sibs. I don't know about any anger issues with Mrs. Schwartz, but remember that this story is the recollection of an adult about his childhood and is exaggerated for comedic effect.

[–] csweetleaf2 (3676) 6 years ago

I always feel that Schwartz's Mom reacted too quickly to the situation and it made me wonder if she has anger issues, if I were Schwartz's mother I would have a talk with him about what happened, I always feel Schwartz didn't deserve getting that kind of abuse from his mother considering he didn't do anything.

[–] ChalupaBatman99 (188) 6 years ago

It's supposed to be funny. I laugh every time I hear Schwartz's mom yelling through the phone and Schwartz screaming "Mom! What'd I do?" For those of us that were "abused" by our parents like that, it rings true and is funny.

[–] RickAtheDJ (29) 6 years ago

My dad discovered he had spanked my brother in error, having not been guilty of what he thought. Dad told him: "We'll count that one for one of the things you got away with." My brother grinned, knowing that he had gotten away with far more than he'd caught. Schwartz probably had more than one coming that he got away with.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

You've grown up in incredibly soft times.

[–] PaladinNJ (21515) 6 years ago

"Anger issues"???? Back then that was considered disciplining. He didn't grow up in the PC world we are left with today.
Only one who did anything wrong was Ralphie when he let Schwartz take the blame.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Exactly!

[–] csweetleaf2 (3676) 6 years ago

Me I think the mother should have let Schwartz know what happened first and then give Schwartz his punishment, that's how I was disciplined when I was growing up.

[–] PaladinNJ (21515) 6 years ago

Didn't your mom ever do the "You know what you did"?

[–] csweetleaf2 (3676) 6 years ago

Not that I can recall, she always let me know what I did prior to me receiving my punishment.

[–] strntz (12353) 6 years ago

Oh great... flashback:::

Mom: YOU (whack) KNOW (whack) WHAT (whack) YOU (whack) DID????

In retrospect, mom had a pretty good cadence going and excellent timing. Should have been a drummer in a fife-and-drum corp..

[–] PaladinNJ (21515) 6 years ago

LOL

[–] kathykato (98) 6 years ago

I always viewed it as karmic payback for Schwartz egging on Flick to stick his tongue to the flag pole.

[–] csweetleaf2 (3676) 6 years ago

I personally felt he should've blamed it on either Scut Farkus or Grover Dill.

[–] strntz (12353) 6 years ago

He panicked and blurted out the first thing that came into his head...

[–] kenburke (2377) 6 years ago

Having tasted the hated bar of soap on several occasions way back when (yuck!), I can assure you Ralphie did not "get off easy".

[–] csweetleaf2 (3676) 6 years ago

I would much rather have my parents put a bar of soap in my mouth than to get physically abused by my parents any day.

[–] csweetleaf2 (3676) 6 years ago

BUMP

[–] liscarkat (18489) 5 years ago

Schwartz's mother didn't abuse him. She spanked him, which was a commonplace and socially acceptable form of child discipline at that time, and should be revived today.

[–] csweetleaf2 (3676) 5 years ago

I totally agree with you that all parents should be allowed to spank their children, I do think Schwartz's mother should've told him what happened first and then give him his punishment.

[–] VIDEOSTOREVANDAL (313) 5 years ago

MY DAD BEAT THE F@#K OUT OF ME WITH HIS BELT WHEN I WAS BAD.I WAS BAD A LOT,BUT BAD ON THE DOWN LOW TRYING NOT TO BE DISCOVERED AND ACTING WELL BEHAVED IN HIS PRESENCE...ON THE FLIP SIDE I HAVE NEVER LAID A FINGER ON MY DAUGHTER AND SHE IS SO LAZY AND ARGUMENTATIVE AND PRETTY BAD SOMETIMES...RIGHT TO MY FACE.I BELIEVE THE MATH NEVER ADDS UP THE WAY YOU WANT.YOU JUST HAVE TO DO YOUR BEST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.EVEN IF THAT MEANS BEATING THE F@#K OUT OF AN INNOCENT SCHWARTZ NOW AND THEN.

[–] nutsberryfarm (286) 5 years ago

make then listen to the radio: npr morning edition---that is cruel!

[–] liscarkat (18489) 5 years ago

Back in the '50s and early '60s, my mom used to occasionally give me the soap treatment, which was quite unpleasant. However, I'd take it any day over my dad's vigorous belt whippings.