The Professor Summary

Before Jane Eyre made Charlotte Brontë famous, she wrote The Professor, A Tale in 1846. But publishers kept turning it down, and it never saw the light of day during her lifetime. It wasn’t until 1857—after Charlotte had passed away—that the novel finally made it to print. Her husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls, carefully reviewed and edited the manuscript, ensuring that The Professor would at last have its moment in the world.

Plot summary

The Professor tells the story of William Crimsworth, a young man finding his way in the world. Told from his own perspective, the novel follows his journey of personal growth, career struggles, and love.

It all begins with a letter. William writes to his friend Charles, explaining how he refused his uncle’s offer to become a clergyman and instead sought work as a tradesman. His wealthy brother, Edward, gives him a job as a clerk—but out of jealousy, Edward treats him cruelly. Fortunately, a kindhearted man named Mr. Hunsden helps William escape this miserable job.

Seeking a fresh start, William moves to Belgium, where he begins teaching at a boys’ boarding school run by the warm and welcoming Monsieur Pelet. His talents as a professor soon attract the attention of Mademoiselle Reuter, the headmistress of a neighboring girls’ school. She offers him a position, and though he is briefly enchanted by her, he soon discovers that she is engaged to Monsieur Pelet and has been deceiving him. Feeling betrayed, William keeps his distance.

Mademoiselle Reuter, however, continues to manipulate him, trying to win back his favor. She introduces him to Frances, a young teacher eager to improve her language skills. Impressed by her intelligence and determination, William gradually falls in love with her. But when Mademoiselle Reuter realizes their growing bond, she jealously dismisses Frances and hides her whereabouts.

After a long and desperate search, William finds Frances again—this time in a quiet graveyard. Their love rekindles, and as fate would have it, Mademoiselle Reuter, despite all her scheming, has fallen in love with William herself. To avoid further conflict, he leaves his job with Monsieur Pelet.

William secures a new teaching position at a college, allowing him to marry Frances. Together, they build a life, open their own school, and start a family. Eventually, with financial stability, they travel through England before settling in the countryside near Mr. Hunsden. Their happiness is complete with the birth of their son, Victor.

Major characters

William Crimsworth

An orphan raised by his uncles, William is educated at Eton but refuses their offer to become a clergyman, feeling unworthy of the role. Determined to follow in his late father’s footsteps, he chooses a career in trade instead. However, his time as a clerk under his cruel and envious brother, Edward, is short-lived. Seeking a fresh start, he moves to Belgium, where he becomes a professor and meets Frances, his future wife. Though intelligent, religious, and strong in character, William is not conventionally handsome.

Lord Tynedale & Hon. John Seacombe

William’s maternal uncles, who attempt to steer his life by securing him a position as a rector and arranging a marriage with one of his cousins—none of whom he likes. Unwilling to be controlled, William severs ties with them, and they fade from his life.

Charles

William’s old friend from Eton and the recipient of his letter at the beginning of the novel. However, Charles never replies—he has already left for the colonies, making him an unseen presence in the story.

Edward Crimsworth

William’s elder brother and his first employer, Edward is a successful but bitter tradesman. Jealous of William’s education, he treats him with cruelty and resentment. Though he initially loses his wealth and wife, he manages to regain his fortune by the end of the novel.

Hunsden Yorke Hunsden

A sharp-witted and independent man who rescues William from his brother’s tyranny. He helps William find work in Brussels, and the two form a strong, if sometimes unconventional, friendship. Hunsden shares William’s taste in women but remains a bachelor for life.

Monsieur François Pelet

The friendly and polished headmaster of a boys' school in Belgium, who offers William a teaching job. Though he initially appears trustworthy, he later betrays William to win the affections of Mademoiselle Reuter, whom he eventually marries.

Mademoiselle Zoraïde Reuter

The calculating headmistress of the neighboring girls’ school. William is initially drawn to her, but he soon discovers her manipulative nature. While she schemes to keep him under her influence, she ultimately marries Monsieur Pelet.

Frances Evans Henri

A quiet yet determined pupil-teacher at Mademoiselle Reuter’s school. Half-English and half-Swiss, she was raised by her aunt after being orphaned. Hardworking and intelligent, she captures William’s heart, and together they build a life in England, founding a school and raising a family.

Major themes

Facing Hardship with Strength

William Crimsworth could have chosen a comfortable life filled with luxury and ease, but he refused. He wanted to live life on his own terms, not under the control of others. To him, integrity, independence, and strong moral values mattered far more than wealth or security.

His wealthy uncles offered him a simple path: join the church, marry well, and live without worry. But accepting their offer would mean giving up his freedom. Crimsworth saw this as a burden, something that would trap him. He later reflects that rejecting their help was the right choice, even if it led to difficulties.

From that moment on, his journey was filled with struggle. His own brother, instead of offering kindness, treated him cruelly. Even when Crimsworth worked hard and did his job well, his brother found ways to belittle him. Later, when Crimsworth became a teacher, he faced new challenges—this time, not through open hostility but through deceit and manipulation.

Yet, he never backed down. When he could no longer stay at Pelet’s school without compromising his values, he walked away, even though it meant stepping into uncertainty. He became, in his own words, “self-deprived of the means of living.” But he was willing to endure hardship for the sake of his principles.

In the end, his perseverance paid off. Through hard work and determination, he built the life he had always wanted. He found success in his career, happiness in marriage, and the contentment of knowing that he had stayed true to himself. His struggles shaped him into the man he aspired to be—strong, independent, and deeply fulfilled.

The Complexity of Human Bonds

In The Professor, relationships are not always what they seem. Some people who should care for Crimsworth let him down, while others who seem indifferent turn out to be true friends.

Take his brother, Edward. Family should be a source of love and support, but Edward offers none of that. Instead, he sees William as a threat. His jealousy and resentment turn into outright cruelty, making life unbearable for his younger brother.

On the other hand, Hunsden, who at first seems sarcastic and detached, proves to be one of Crimsworth’s most loyal friends. Though he claims not to care, his actions say otherwise. He helps Crimsworth escape his brother’s mistreatment and gives him the recommendation that changes his life. Later, he becomes an eccentric but steadfast companion to both Crimsworth and Frances.

Then there’s Frances. At first, she is simply Crimsworth’s student, someone he barely notices. But as he gets to know her, he sees beyond her humble appearance. She is intelligent, hardworking, and kind—the kind of woman he never realized he needed. Their relationship grows from teacher and pupil to something much deeper.

Frances, too, undergoes a transformation. She begins as a respectful, quiet student, but as their love deepens, she becomes his equal. She knows when to yield and when to stand her ground. Even after marriage, she keeps her independence. When she asks to open her own school, she does so with confidence, working side by side with her husband to build their future.

Through these relationships, Crimsworth learns an important lesson: true bonds are not defined by status or appearances but by the character and actions of those involved.