The Professor

Main Characters and Their Development

• William Crimsworth — the main character of the novel, a young Englishman searching for his place in the world, whose inner resilience and ambition are tested by harsh trials. His character is revealed through his struggle with humiliation and loneliness, but it is in overcoming difficulties that he gains maturity, learns to distinguish true values, and discovers his capacity for deep feeling and devotion.
• Frances Evans Henri — a student and later Crimsworth's beloved, embodying modesty, diligence, and independence of spirit. Her development is a journey from a shy, almost invisible girl to a confident woman capable of sincere love and selflessness.
• Edward Crimsworth — William's older brother, a domineering and cold man whose cruelty and arrogance become the hero's first serious life challenge. His image serves as a contrast to reveal the main character's nature.
• Madame Reuter — the owner of the boarding school where William works, an intelligent, calculating, and ambitious woman. Her attitude toward Crimsworth shifts from patronizing interest to jealousy and rivalry, highlighting the complexity of human feelings and motives.