Butley (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Simon Gray
- First Published: 1971
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Psychological realism
- Time of Work: The 1970’s
- Setting: A faculty office at London University
- Genres: Drama, Psychological drama
- Subjects: Teaching or teachers, 1970’s, Love or romance, Literature, Friendship, College life, Divorce, London, Colleges or universities
- Locales: London, England
Characters Discussed
Ben Butley, a lecturer in English literature at London University. He is a childish, irresponsible, disorganized cynic who smokes constantly and drinks heavily. Ben frequently quotes Beatrix Potter and T. S. Eliot and ridicules others with his abrasive wit. Separated from his wife, Anne, he lives with his office mate, Joey Keyston, with whom he also lived before his marriage. Ben tells students that he cannot see them because of his administrative burden, but he also declines to speak with his department chairman, claiming to be too busy with tutorials....
[The entire page is 665 words long]
