Q: How does ‘Browning Version’ bring out the characters of Mr.

Crocker Harris
and Mr. Frank as teachers?

A: Crocker Harris and Frank represent the two different teachers who leave a
marked impression on their student Taplow with their completely diverse
ideologies. Crocker Harris is a strict disciplinarian who keeps distance from his
pupils and interacts with them only too formally. On the other hand Frank, as the
name represents is a young and friendly teacher whose indulgence with his
students dissolves the dignity of their limits.

As the play opens, Frank is seen prompting Taplow to divulge information about
Crocker Harris. Taplow is obviously annoyed at being held by the latter for extra
work, on the last day of the school so he vents his frustration without hesitation.
The conversation reflects the opinion of children about Crocker Harris who’s held
in awe by the other masters for commanding students’ obedience. As a literature
teacher, he strictly enforces perfection in language. His rigid views don’t let the
kids know their results before time nor do they expect any lighter moment in his
class or favours . They feel threatened in his presence and therefore follow his
orders religiously. Consequentially, he is neither accepted nor liked by them. The
worst – the subject he teaches is also repelled by the children.

Frank, as the name suggests, takes ethics and discipline very casually. It is on his
encouragement that Taplow addresses Crocker Harris with humiliation as ‘Crock’
and mimics him. Gushing in the most unpleasant way he even insists on a
repeated performance. Visibly amused, Frank pretends to appear offended and
seeks Taplow’s apology for his loose tongue. He even lures Taplow to leave when
the master is late. His crass behaviour shocks the readers.

Furthermore, he admires none, not even his students and criticizes them as
‘slackers’. Shameless and mean in his mannerisms, Frank is forced to be quiet on
discovering Millie observing them from a distance.

Q: What is your view of Taplow as he emerges as a character of significance in

‘Browning Version’?
A: Taplow is a student of lower fifth and wants to take up Science if he passes
with good grades. He doesn’t like to study Agememnon due to its strong Greek
vocabulary. He’s an innocent and gullible child. He criticises Mr. Harris,
indiscriminately, and calls him a ‘hardly human’ and 'shrivelled'. Though tempted
to call his teacher the ‘Crock’, he’s scared of defying him by leaving without
permission. He’s patient to bear Mr. Harris's sarcasm and serves Ms Millie for her
errand.

The readers see and judge the personalities of Mr. Harris and Mr. Frank through
the lens of Taplow’s reaction to both the teachers. His disappointment on the last
day of the school, being held for an extra class, draws our empathy and we
criticize Crocker Harris for being so harsh. Though friendly and interactive with
children, the character of Frank fills us with disgust as we find him misdirecting
Taplow by his flippant attitude.

The cold indifference of Crocker Harris fills him with bitterness while immoral and
frivolous Frank offers him a role model, too poor to develop a character of higher
standards.