Character Sketch of the Protagonist from Class 8 English Honeydew Book Poem 4 – The School Boy
A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of the Protagonist from Class 8 English Honeydew Book Poem 4- The School Boy
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Character Sketch of the Protagonist
The term “Protagonist” refers to the main character of the play or story. “The School Boy” is a poem written by William Blake. The protagonist in the poem is a young, sensitive, and inward looking character. The protagonist is not specifically named in the poem, instead it is indirectly referred to as the young child. As per the context in the poem, the child is around the age of eight or nine. The boy seems to be young, healthy and youthful. He is wearing a typical school uniform of the time.
In the poem, the protagonist is portrayed as an innocent child who is enjoying the simple pleasures of life, such as experiencing nature and playing. Nevertheless, his innocence is disturbed by the rigid structure of formal schooling. The child’s heart wants eternal freedom and because of his rigid school, he seems to be in a sense of rebellion. He seems to be unhappy with the restrictions in the school. He feels suffocated and restricted, especially by the rules and regulations that keep him isolated from the joys of childhood.
He seems to be emotionally sensitive when it comes to choosing joy over school restrictions. The suppressing nature of the schoolwork takes his freedom to play and does not allow him to live his childhood as he should. The adult-like burden seems to be very heavy on him and he expresses his desire for happiness and enjoyment of the carefree days of summer. The child appears to be rich in imagination and creativity, which is in contrast to the rigid environment of the school. His dreams of freedom, to explore and connect with nature, to enjoy his childhood to the fullest. He believes that all these pleasures are precious for a child to experience in his childhood and are crucial to his happiness and well-being. The child in the entire composition expresses his sadness and frustration. He feels confined in his school and schoolwork which therefore separate him from the joys of childhood and happiness. His emotional state has become so habitual that makes him feel suffocated and causes distress. The social environment is surrounded by a structured society, rigid schooling, a lot of formalities, less creativity and a lack of childhood joy. The school appears to be oppressive and alienates him. The child desires his freedom and wants to live in his natural space, free from societal constraints. He wants to enjoy open grounds and carefree summer days. The boy’s love for nature reveals a crucial part of his personality where his innocence is struggling with childhood freedom and adult world responsibilities.
Questions related to the character of the Protagonist
Q-1: Why does the Protagonist feel unhappy and suffocated in school?
Q-2: What message does the poem convey regarding the innocence of the child and his desires?
Overview of the Poem
In William Blake’s “The School Boy,” the protagonist is a young, sensitive child who desires freedom and the simple joys of nature, which are stifled by the rigid structure of formal schooling. The boy’s frustration and emotional sensitivity highlight the conflict between childhood innocence and the oppressive adult world. His desire for carefree days and connection with nature reflects his need for personal freedom and happiness.