The Palace Thief

Hundert changes in The Palace Thief by developing self-awareness and confessing to his past unethical behavior. These changes are evident in his writing a narrative that reveals his complicity in...

In "The Palace Thief" by Ethan Canin, the central theme revolves around moral corruption and the consequences of compromising one's principles. The story follows Mr. Hundert, a teacher who faces...

In "The Palace Thief," Hundert's reunion with his former students develops the idea that "man's character is his fate," by showing how little they have all changed after more than forty years,...

The relationship between the narrator and Sedgewick Bell in The Palace Thief is complex and evolves over time. Initially, the narrator, a history teacher, sees potential in the rebellious student and...

Sedgewick's cheating corrupts him, making him think that dishonesty is always the solution to any difficulty. Hundert agonizes over this lack of a moral compass and feels that it is impossible for...

Hundert seems to demonstrate the truth of Heraclitus's observation that "Man's character is his fate" when he allows Sedgewick Bell to get away with cheating in the "Mr. Julius Caesar" contest....

Sedgewick Bell's behavior remains unchanged throughout "The Palace Thief." Initially, he is a bully and a boor at St. Benedict's School, marked by dishonesty and a need for approval. Despite becoming...

The central ideas in Ethan Canin's "The Palace Thief" are introduced, developed, and refined through recurring themes of failure and power. Initially, characters like Abba Roth experience personal...

This part of the story covers the "Mr. Julius Caesar" competition at St. Benedict's School, in which Mr. Hundert realizes that Sedgewick Bell is cheating but is forced to avoid exposing his...

Hundert's life in Woodmere after retirement underscores his deep commitment to teaching and lifelong learning. His inability to fully separate from St. Benedict's School, coupled with his...

Mr. Hundert's impressions of Sedgewick Bell as a lazy, inept, dishonest, and troublesome student are confirmed by Bell's behavior in the decades after he leaves school. Unlike Hundert, Bell's...

The narrator, Mr. Hundert, has a profound connection with St. Benedict's School, where he devoted his entire career to teaching classical civilization and ancient history. He views teaching not...

The narrator's reasons for sharing his story suggest a lack of self-awareness and pride in his role as a history teacher. He presents the tale as a factual account, distancing himself from personal...

Mr. Hundert's relationship with St. Benedict's School was deeply personal and significant, extending beyond a mere career. He viewed his role as an educator as a mission to impart cultural and...

An important conflict in The Palace Thief is the person-versus-person conflict between Mr. Hundert and Sedgewick Bell Jr. Mr. Hundert, the teacher, takes seriously his responsibility to educate the...

This quotation from "The Palace Thief" reveals that Mr. Hundert lacks the courage to do what's right. Though Hundert knows full well that the senator's son has been cheating, he is scared of...

Hundert upholds a high moral code, valuing integrity and right versus wrong, and he strives to instill these values in his students. However, he compromises these principles by failing to confront...

Parental expectations significantly influence Hundert's decisions during the Mr. Julius Caesar competition. Hundert feels pity for Sedgewick Bell, partly due to the harsh expectations of Sedgewick's...

The narrator's point of view in "The Palace Thief" is shaped by his role as a classics teacher, influencing both the style and content of the story. Told in a first-person narrative by Mr. Hundert,...

The author uses words that highlight Hundert's moral challenges through his dedication to teaching and his struggle with hypocrisy. Hundert views his role as imparting ethical values, reflecting his...

The narrator, Mr. Hundert, perceives his purpose as a teacher at St. Benedict's School to be not only instructing students but also civilizing them for honorable and productive roles in society. He...

Sedgewick Bell reveals the outline to Hundert post-competition because he knew Hundert was already aware of his cheating. This revelation allows Sedgewick to shift the focus from his wrongdoing to...

In "The Palace Thief," the senator believes that it is the narrator's job to teach his son the facts, whereas the narrator thinks it is his role as a teacher to mold the boy's character.

Sedgewick Bell Jr. is the son of Senator Bell and a key character in "The Palace Thief." As a student at St. Benedict's School, he is known for his indiscipline and cheating, notably during a history...