Terry Character Analysis

Terry is a Welshman who plays the snake Kaa in Shadwell's production of The Jungle Book. He's about 40, an ardent Trotskyite, and possibly attracted to men. Karim attempts to seduce him throughout the novel, though Terry resists. Terry's Trotskyism insists that the upper classes will be taken down through constant revolution, which would be incited by the working classes. Karim finds this ridiculous, as his experience with the working class suggests that they really only hate those lower on the social ladder, not those higher up. Terry also struggles to support his theories when Karim asks questions about Trotskyism, which is one of the reasons why Karim never truly joins the Party. Despite their political differences, Terry is generally kind to Karim and guides him through his first few acting jobs. Terry is incensed when Matthew Pyke casts Karim instead of him, and later forces Karim to ask Pyke for money for the Party. Karim teases Terry mercilessly about his acting job in a TV show on which he plays a policeman named Sergeant Monty, as the character represents the exact opposite of Terry's political beliefs.