Thoughts on Labyrinth II: What's With the Whip?

Link to "Thoughts on Labyrinth: God, Sara, You're So Stupid!"

The character Jareth played by David Bowie in Labyrinth is definetely an evil dude. But one would consider him the intellectual villian, not the kind of person who would torture people in the basement of his palace. I have no idea as to if the Castle Beyond the Goblin City even has a basement, but that's OK, you get the picture. {The Alamo doesn't have a basement either.} Well, he might lock them in one of his oubliettes, but he won't torture them firsthand. Then I want an explanation as to why he carries a whip around for most of the movie. I think the only scene in which he doesn't have it would be the "Dance Magic" scene. What's up with that? Did they just write it in because they thought it was sexy? (Well, it kinda is, but oh well.) Help me out here!

May the Force be with you, Mr. Goblin King, sir.

{Kinda brings to mind "SexyBack", doesn't it? Or is that just me?}