The English Teacher Character Analysis

An emotional, spiritual and religious journey is what Krishna, the protagonist, undergoes in The English Teacher.. The novel begins with Krishna as an English teacher teaching at Albert Mission College, Krishna is presented to be not satisfied with the boring routine life of a teacher, whose job is to parrot the same old poems and literature to his uninterested students. After an extended stay with her parents, his wife Susila and daughter Leela finally join him. Fast forwarding to Krishna embracing the role of a homeowner and reaching a positive and happy state, it all abruptly goes downhill because Susila’s death. The aftermath of Susila’s death is the major portion of the novel, and new characters such as the Headmaster and the

Although Krishna and the Headmaster share the same profession, their philosophies and outlook’s contrast are used to enhance Krishna’s character. Krishna can "no longer stuff Shakespeare and Elizabethan metre and Romantic poetry" as what little passion he had for his job had died out and is in no comparison to the headmaster. Krishna "doesn 't care about these children" all he does is to make them sit in rows and "take attendance" every lesson and is flooded with the "greatest relief" when the bell rings to signify the end of a lesson. While in contrast the headmaster is fully devoted to his students, in a sense where he believes that “education is to shape the mind and character of a child”; the mere fact that he illustrates his own stories for the children supports that he cares for his children. Unlike Krishna where he tells his students to “shut up” and ask “no questions”, the Headmaster approaches his students in a manner where he cares for them as his own children. The headmaster is utilized in a contradicting manner in a sense that brings out Krishna’s attitude, character and outlook on his