The Palace Thief Character Analysis Essay

Our main character in “The Palace Thief”, is Hundert, an experienced teacher at the prestigious boarding school, St. Benedicts where he is the teacher of history, his favorite being Roman history. Hundert claims to be a man or morals as he is there for all of his students, his morals are selfish though, because he tried to show special attention to people because they praise him, and that is what he wants. The beginning of the story starts with a narration by Hundert, and then he tells of the plaque that he keeps above his door, the plaque is a passage written by Shutruk-Nahhunte(pg.157). He uses the plaque as a saying of how nothing is forever, even the most famous of kings will fall. Hundert in this case is the fallen king. For in his classroom he was the “king” he was in charge of everything, Hundert never openly admits this, but with a full reading of the story, it can easily be inferred. Hundert begins to tell his tale of himself and Sedgewick. Hundert almost immediately takes an interest in Sedgewick. At first Sedgewick is highly negative and he and Hundert have multiple conversations, and after a while Hundert tells Sedgewick that he will talk to his father (pg.161). After that he and Sedgewick got along and Sedgewick’s grade rose. Proud of Sedgewick Hundert gives Sedgewick a grade he does not …show more content…
When they were at Sedgewick’s estate for the new competition Hundert meets his entire old student body, and of course they reminisce of their days at St. Benedicts. This special attention pleases the aging Hundert, as he believes that even after all these years; he was still on the mind. He mentions that as he watched as all his old students ducked out of the helicopters clutching their suit lapels, it was then he realized how much of a privilege his occupation was (pg.188). this once again Hundert viewing himself as “the very important