Character sketch of M. Hemal

- French teacher in a school of Alsace
- Dedicated has given 40 years of meritorious service to his school
- Completely identifies with his students and school & town.
- Strict disciplinarian & hard task master.
- Students scared of him if late/unprepared.
- Has a sense of integrity and honesty doesn't blame students entirely for neglect of language
- Confesses that he has been wrong in sending children to water his flowers and giving them off
- Accepts his mistakes - Rare quality
- Is emotional, sensitive-deeply pained at the thought of leaving France and not being able to teach      any more.
- The writer gives a sensitive description of Hamel's efforts to absorb his surroundings to etch them in his memory.
- Out of his pain grows a true mentor & ideal teacher who dose't restrict himself to teaching his subject but acts true to his profession by giving a last lesson to his students.That of holding fast to their language
- Their identity which will be their passport to freedom.
- Instills a sense of patriotism in his students by writing Vive Le France on the board.
- Is proud of his language-calls it the most beautiful, clearest language in the world.
- The last lesson by Hamel unites the people of Alsace in their battle against Linguistic Chauvinism.They listen to him with concentration & there is hope that they would become free of foreign rule.