Character Analysis — Supporting Characters

While Hector and Irwin dominate the intellectual debate, the supporting characters in The History Boys are far from passive. Each boy, and each adult, contributes to the play's exploration of education, identity, and the relationship between knowledge and power. Examiners reward responses that demonstrate a detailed understanding of the full ensemble.

---

The Boys

Dakin

Aspect	Detail
Role	The most confident and sexually assured of the boys
Key trait	Charisma, ambition, and a transactional view of relationships
Sexuality	Heterosexual but sexually experimental — pursues Irwin
Future	Becomes a tax lawyer — successful but conventional

Dakin is the alpha male of the group. He is handsome, articulate, and sexually confident — the boy most likely to succeed in conventional terms. He has an affair with the Headmaster's secretary, Fiona, and also pursues Irwin.

Key characteristics: