# The Head — The Pothunters character guide

> The Head in The Pothunters by P. G. Wodehouse.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Headmaster, The Headmaster, the Old Man, The Old Man

**First appearance:** 0001-the-pothunters

## Snapshot

The Headmaster of St. Austin's, a man whose dignified authority is quietly undermined by his eagerness to solve the Pavilion burglary himself.

## Who they are

The Head presides over the school with the usual gravitas, but the theft of the cups stirs something more personal in him: a detective's itch he cannot quite scratch. He slips down to the Pavilion during a Sixth-form examination, trades theories with Inspector Roberts, and is visibly deflated when his neat deductions about a diamond and a professional hand are picked apart. His suspicion of Thomson and his relief at the boy's innocence show a man caught between duty and the wish to be right.

## Relationships

### [Jim Thomson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/jim_thomson)

_professional_

Headmaster-student relationship with frequent contact, likely involving discipline or guidance.

### [Sir Alfred Venner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/sir_alfred_venner)

_professional_

Colleagues or authority figures in the school setting, possibly a governor or senior staff member.

### [Merevale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/merevale)

_professional_

Student-headmaster relationship, involving authority and discipline.

### [Barrett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/barrett)

_professional_

Student and headmaster, with interactions likely involving school rules or guidance.

### [Plunkett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/plunkett)

_professional_

Student and headmaster relationship, possibly with disciplinary overtones.

### [Jim Thomson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/jim_thomson)

_professional_

Headmaster-student relationship with frequent contact, likely involving discipline or guidance.

### [Sir Alfred Venner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/sir_alfred_venner)

_professional_

Colleagues or authority figures in the school setting, possibly a governor or senior staff member.

### [Plunkett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/plunkett)

_professional_

Student and headmaster relationship, possibly with disciplinary overtones.

### [Merevale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/merevale)

_professional_

Student-headmaster relationship, involving authority and discipline.

### [Barrett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/barrett)

_professional_

Student and headmaster, with interactions likely involving school rules or guidance.

### [Jim Thomson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/jim_thomson)

_professional_

Headmaster-student relationship with frequent contact, likely involving discipline or guidance.

### [Merevale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/merevale)

_professional_

Student-headmaster relationship, involving authority and discipline.

## In the story

### [An Interesting Interview](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/chapters/xii-an-interesting-interview)

Presides over the interview; expresses doubt about Jim's guilt but presses for a confession; agrees to meet Jim again on Monday.

### [XIII: Sir Alfred Scores](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/chapters/xiii-sir-alfred-scores)

The Headmaster, Mr. Perceval, deals with Sir Alfred's complaint and later confronts Plunkett about smoking.

### [The Long Run](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/chapters/xiv-the-long-run)

Sleepless, annoyed at Sir Alfred Venner, uncertain about Jim's guilt, writes an article.

### [Mr. Roberts Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/chapters/xv-mr-roberts-explains)

Relieved Jim is innocent, but struggles with the need to apologize and lecture Jim about betting; receives news of Jim's disappearance.

### [In Which the Affairs of Various Persons Are Wound Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/chapters/xviii-in-which-the-affairs-of-various-persons-are-wound-up)

Resolves the burglary case, visits Jim to lecture him, but is thwarted by Mrs. MacArthur's presence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters/the_head
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pothunters_se/characters