What is the name of the protagonist in Charlotte Brontë's 'The Professor'?

The protagonist in Charlotte Brontë’s The Professor is William Crimsworth.

William narrates the novel in the first person, describing his struggle for independence after rejecting a clerical career proposed by his wealthy uncles. He briefly works for his cruel elder brother, Edward, before leaving England for Belgium.

In Brussels, William becomes a teacher—called a “professor”—at boys’ and girls’ schools. His experiences there shape the novel’s central conflicts involving work, class, religion, language, and romantic deception. He eventually falls in love with Frances Evans Henri, a pupil-teacher, and builds a family life with her.

The Professor was Charlotte Brontë’s first novel, written in 1846 but published posthumously in 1857. It is sometimes confused with Villette because both draw on Brontë’s experiences in Brussels. The key difference is that The Professor presents its story through a male narrator, while Villette follows the female protagonist Lucy Snowe.