A Kestrel for a Knave Character Analysis

Billy Casper

Billy Casper is a teenager growing up in a small mining village in the north of England. He lives with his mother (Mrs. Casper) and his older brother Jud. Billy’s dad left… read analysis of Billy Casper

Mr. Farthing

Mr. Farthing is the English teacher at Billy Casper’s school. Mr. Farthing is different from the rest of the teachers in two very important ways. First, he finds engaging ways to teach that keep… read analysis of Mr. Farthing

Jud Casper

Jud Casper is Billy Casper’s older brother. He’s Mrs. Casper’s son, but there is gossip in the community that he might not share Billy’s dad. Having already graduated from secondary school, Jud… read analysis of Jud Casper

Mr. Sugden

Mr. Sugden is the physical education teacher at Billy Casper’s school. He uses physical education classes to play out his fantasies of being a professional football (soccer) player, even going so far as to… read analysis of Mr. Sugden

Mrs. Casper

Mrs. Casper is the mother of Billy and Jud. She’s a neglectful parent who not only fails to keep food in the house for her sons but also is distinctly uncomfortable when Billy turns… read analysis of Mrs. Casper

Mr. Gryce

Mr. Gryce is the headmaster of Billy’s school. A strict disciplinarian, his punishments verge on torture and they are certainly handed out unevenly—while he canes MacDowall and Billy for alleged infractions, he also punishes… read analysis of Mr. Gryce

Youth Employment Officer

The Youth Employment Officer is an official who visits the school to talk with graduating students about their options in the workforce. He has a very awkward conversation with Billy which serves to underline the… read analysis of Youth Employment Officer

MacDowall

MacDowall is a friend and classmate of Billy Casper. Along with Tibbut, he is one of the friends Billy plans to go exploring on the day that he finds the kestrel nest on… read analysis of MacDowall

Farmer

The farmer owns Monastery Farm, where Billy finds the kestrels’ nest from which he takes Kes. Initially harsh toward the young trespasser, he quickly warms up to Billy when he realizes the teenager is… read analysis of Farmer

Dad

Billy’s dad and Mrs. Casper’s husband abandoned his family when Billy was young. It’s unclear whether he is also Jud’s father, and there is gossip on the estate that he is not… read analysis of Dad

Messenger

The messenger is a boy Mr. Crossley sends to deliver a message to Mr. Gryce. He inadvertently (and unfortunately) gets swept up in the punishment Mr. Gryce is handing out and gets caned across… read analysis of Messenger

Minor Characters

Anderson

Anderson is a classmate of Billy, MacDowall, and Tibbut. He tells a particularly vivid anecdote in Mr. Farthing’s English class about catching tadpoles at the pond.

Mr. Porter

Mr. Porter owns a newspaper shop and employs Billy to deliver newspapers to his patrons in the City. He has a low opinion of Billy and of all the poor people who live on the estate.

Tibbut

Tibbut is a friend and classmate of Billy Casper. Along with MacDowall, he had planned to go birding with Billy on the day Billy acquired Kes, but he slept in instead.

Mr. and Mrs. Hartley

Mr. and Mrs. Hartley own a fish and chips shop on the estate where Billy Casper lives.

Mrs. Rose

Mrs. Rose is the wife of the bookie whose shop sits on the estate where Billy Casper grows up. She must confront Jud’s rage when he learns that Billy failed to place his (winning) bets.

Crossley

Mr. Crossley is a teacher at Billy’s school. He prizes order and regularity and has no sense of humor.

Uncle Mick

Uncle Mick is the man with whom Mrs. Casper was having an affair at the time Billy’s dad left the family.

Reg

Reg is Mrs. Casper’s most recent boyfriend.

A Kestrel for a Knave Characters