Literary notes about Proctor (AI summary)
The term "proctor" appears in literature with a dual nature—both as a surname that denotes characters with commanding or pivotal roles and as a title for officials tasked with oversight. In narratives by Wilkie Collins, a proctor governs legal and administrative procedures, as when a character is received in the proctor’s office with marked interest [1] or is responsible for proving a will [2]. Meanwhile, in works by Jules Verne, figures such as Colonel Proctor emerge as prominent military or authoritative personalities whose actions propel the plot [3, 4, 5]. In other contexts, the title is employed in academic and legal settings to indicate the supervisory role one assumes, whether in managing examinations or handling intricate affairs [6, 7, 8]. Thus, across various texts, "proctor" is a chameleon-like term, comfortably inhabiting both personal identification and institutional responsibility.
- I happened to be looking in at my friend the proctor’s office, and I observed that he received me with an appearance of greater interest than usual.
— from The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - On Lady Verinder’s death, the Will was placed in the hands of my proctor to be “proved” (as the phrase is) in the usual way.
— from The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins - cried Colonel Proctor, whom this word seemed to excite prodigiously.
— from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne - Thirty or forty passengers had already descended, amongst them Colonel Stamp Proctor.
— from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne - Mr. Fogg and Colonel Proctor, each provided with two six-barrelled revolvers, entered the car.
— from Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne - Mr Lightwood explained that he came from the proctor's, with whom he had been engaged in transacting Mr Boffin's affairs.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens - Just then the proctor informs you that the time is up.
— from The Story of My Life by Helen Keller - The ten o'clock bell had rung, and Mr. Galloway, proctor and surrogate, at home in his residence in the Boundaries, was thinking he might go to rest.
— from Roland YorkeA Sequel to "The Channings" by Wood, Henry, Mrs.
