What is really there?

I’m very interested in Martin Guerre’s first defiance of his father, which starts on page 24.
    The initial problem, at hand, is the carnivorous bears who pose not only a problem to the region but to that of the Guerre’s own properties as well. Martin chooses to look into this matter and pursues it secretly, without the consent of his father. What’s interesting here is that the narrative does not necessarily give us hints as to Martin’s intentions, whether he might be doing this out of a selfish flair for adventure or whether he hoped to further secure his father’s materials by helping to destroy a natural threat. Though the former makes more sense in the context of this piece, a naive and idealistic part of myself imagines the latter as the reality of this story.
    When Martin finally does return, joyous with bear meat in his hands, he is immediately mellowed by his father’s own expression. It says next that Martin made excuses for his absence from the farm labor, talking more about his adventures, and what I find especially interesting after this is that, despite the seriousness of Monsieur Guerre, he still gives his son the chance to completely explain himself before the master of the house does anything at all. Monsieur Guerre then commands him to kneel, the occasion again does not have one set direction with which the narrative will inevitably progress. This context, in of itself, is interesting (or at least to me) as the occasion can be that of an honoring ceremony or that of a rebuking one (you’re going to have to excuse my ignorance, as I was thinking of royalty honoring knights here). Then Monsieur Guerre delivers just one powerful blow to Martin, which is a complete surprise to not only me but to that of the characters in the novella as well (as Martin’s mother catches her breath). What’s interesting here is that there is a lot at work in this act. For one, it can be seen as a disciplinary action. But for what, one must ask. There’s the negligence of one’s duties to the farm (the family). There’s the disobedience of tradition and routine (chaos cannot exist in order), especially as this is done in secrecy. There’s the possibility that this action is the manifestation of Monsieur Guerre’s own worried and repressed emotions for his son’s well-being and safety (as this action may tell us more about Monsieur Guerre than just what he says and how he holds himself).
    What I find especially intriguing in this piece is the way Martin holds himself to his father. For one, he has total respect for him in that he does not protest about his punishment in the slightest. It’s as if he knows that he has done wrong. That he accepts this and the consequences of it. But what I do wonder is if this blow and its foresight was obvious, if at least not to it’s readers (I’m not culturally aware) then to that of Martin.