The rebbe is rationalizing his father’s cruelty—and his own toward Danny. Reb Saunders is, in fact, an unconscious sadist who compulsively abuses Danny the same way his father abused him. The rebbe’s lack of self-awareness about his unconscious motivation enriches his characterization.
If this is abuse, what else can be? Royal children raised apart from parents? Etc. Why is this not a valid choice? Modern ideas about parenting imposed?
