Characters
Andrew Crocker-Harris
Andrew Crocker-Harris is a classical scholar of notable talent and a schoolmaster at an English public school where he has worked for eighteen years. Dubbed "The Crock" by his students, he is recognized for his strict disciplinary methods and meticulous fairness in grading. Although highly knowledgeable in the classics, Andrew struggles to connect with his students and gain the respect of his peers. His adherence to traditional methods and emotional reserve make him seem anachronistic in an evolving educational landscape.
As Andrew faces retirement forced by health issues, just a year shy of qualifying for a pension, his personal and professional shortcomings come to the fore. He has silently endured his wife Millie's affair with Frank Hunter, a younger, more popular colleague. Despite these challenges, he experiences a rare emotional opening on his penultimate day at school, describing it as "twitchings of a corpse." This shift is spurred on by the actions of his pupil, John Taplow; his colleague, Hunter; and his successor, Peter Gilbert.
Andrew is deeply touched by Taplow's gift—Robert Browning's Agamemnon with a heartfelt inscription that reads, "God from afar looks graciously upon a gentle master." This gesture begins to pierce his emotional armor, though Millie's derision soon dampens this moment. Inspired by Hunter's support, Andrew decides to assert his dignity by choosing to speak second at the school ceremony, rebuffing Dr. Frobisher's suggestion to speak first, which would undermine his seniority. He also decides to remain in town for the summer, regardless of Millie's intentions.
Ultimately, Andrew resolves to embrace a future with dignity, taking a position at a crammers' school and ending his fraught marriage with Millie. These choices signify a return to self-respect and community engagement, enabling Andrew to approach his new chapter with renewed confidence and honor.
Millie Crocker-Harris
Millie Crocker-Harris, Andrew's wife, is portrayed as embittered by her husband's lack of both professional success and personal warmth. She engages in an affair with Frank Hunter as an escape from her unsatisfying marriage. Millie resents domestic chores, which she believes are beneath her due to her financial independence, and her disdain for Andrew is evident in her frequent undermining of him through sarcastic remarks.
Her most egregious act occurs when she cruelly mocks Andrew's emotional response to Taplow's gift, dismissing it as an insincere gesture. Her relentless cruelty not only drives Frank Hunter to end their affair but also alienates her from Andrew, who becomes indifferent to her departure by the play's conclusion. Millie's behavior serves as a catalyst for Andrew's eventual decision to part ways with her and seek a new beginning.
John Taplow
John Taplow is a bespectacled sixteen-year-old who is attending a final Greek tutorial with Andrew. Despite his preference for leisure activities like golf, Taplow attends the session out of respect for Andrew. While he partakes in mimicking "The Crock" alongside Frank Hunter, Taplow genuinely admires Andrew's dedication to classical scholarship. This is reflected in his thoughtful gift of Agamemnon marked with the inscription: "God from afar looks graciously upon a gentle master." This sincere token momentarily breaks through Andrew's stoicism, shaken by Millie's subsequent ridicule.
Frank Hunter
Frank Hunter is a charismatic and self-assured young schoolmaster whose popularity starkly contrasts with Andrew's. Having had an affair with Millie, Frank becomes disenchanted with her due to her harsh treatment of Andrew. His compassion for Andrew prompts him to end his dalliance with Millie and extend his friendship to Andrew, promising to remain in touch after Andrew transitions to his new role. This gesture of solidarity helps Andrew regain a sense of dignity and companionship.
Dr. Frobisher
Dr....
(This entire section contains 801 words.)
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Frobisher, the headmaster, embodies the archetype of a traditional academic authority. He delivers the disheartening news of Andrew's pension denial and in an attempt to mitigate the disappointment, suggests Andrew speak first at the term-end ceremony, a suggestion that Andrew rejects due to its undermining nature. While Dr. Frobisher recognizes Andrew's intelligence, his lack of empathy for Andrew's situation highlights his inability to grasp the impact of his decisions on Andrew's morale.
Peter Gilbert
Peter Gilbert, Andrew's young successor, inadvertently spurs Andrew to self-reflection by revealing that Andrew is mockingly called "The Himmler of the lower fifth." Despite the unease this causes, Peter seeks Andrew's counsel, leading to a moment of introspection and an emotional admission from Andrew regarding his perceived failures. This awkward yet honest exchange lays the groundwork for mutual respect and understanding between the two educators.
Mrs. Gilbert
Mrs. Gilbert, Peter's young wife, comes across as somewhat superficial and overly concerned with trivial matters. Her marriage, only two months old, is already strained by misunderstandings, as seen in her exaggerated portrayal of their first meeting. These marital tensions suggest a potential parallel to the troubled marriage of Andrew and Millie, hinting at a repeating cycle of discord.
