CHARLIE (Harvey Keitel) - aka Charlie Cappa; he was formally introduced offering 'personal' penance in church (after denouncing the usual 'Hail Marys'); a devout Catholic who was seeking redemption, he felt an inner struggle and conflicted Catholic guilt about his illicit, criminal and impure activities and urges, and sensed he was unworthy; his struggle was exemplified by the memorable image of him holding his hand directly in the flame of a votive candle before an altar o test himself against the fires of hell.It also accentuates the contrasting, elemental dualities within the film: heaven and earth (or under-the-earth), male and female, light and dark, good and evil, knowingness and innocence, and other polarizations including equating the Preacher with the devil.When a man is young, Mr.Chipping, there are many other walks of life open to him.Reluctant to resign the teaching profession so soon, he thereafter attempts to prove himself.Grateful that he has been given a second chance, Mr.Chipping returns to the classroom with a stronger resolve to be stern and avoid further embarrassment: "They will not do it again, Mr.On the gate hangs a mailbox marked: "Letter Box STRANGWAYS." Inside the bungalow, a woman opens up a bookcase which conceals a hidden ham radio set.She makes a call from there - "W6N" (Jamaica) to "G7W" (London), but from her sense of agitation, she expects someone to arrive who is overdue.Now I'm not gonna lie to ya.He didn't start off thinkin' about the hicks and all the wonderful things he was gonna do for 'em.Naw, naw, he's done it all thinkin' of number one.But something came to him on the way.How he could do nothin' for himself without the help of the people.That's what came to him.And it also came to him with the powerful force of God's own lightning back in his own county when the school building collapsed 'cause it was built of politics' rotten brick.