In the Egypt Game, is the Professor a static or dynamic character?

A static character is a character who does not change significantly throughout the story. A dynamic character undergoes changes, exhibiting some sort of growth over the course of the story. In The Egypt Game, the Professor, or Dr. Huddleston, is a dynamic character.

At the beginning of the novel, the Professor is a taciturn, private man who seems uninterested in forming relationships. His lack of friendliness causes people in the neighborhood to distrust him....

A static character is a character who does not change significantly throughout the story. A dynamic character undergoes changes, exhibiting some sort of growth over the course of the story. In The Egypt Game, the Professor, or Dr. Huddleston, is a dynamic character.

At the beginning of the novel, the Professor is a taciturn, private man who seems uninterested in forming relationships. His lack of friendliness causes people in the neighborhood to distrust him. Children steer clear of his shop, and some residents have actually written letters and signed petitions to get him to move away, believing him to be involved with two unsolved murders of children that have occurred in the area.

Although readers do not see the transformation as it happens, the author gives slight clues. Readers know the Professor is watching the Egypt game through his window without letting anyone—except Marshall—know he is doing so. Readers are left to wonder whether his behavior is innocent or whether he poses a threat. When April gets attacked when trying to retrieve her math book from the Professor's storage yard, the Professor is the one who calls for help and ends up saving April.

When the Professor comes to April's apartment on Christmas Eve to meet with the children, he tells them his story about the loss of his wife and how he withdrew from people because of his pain. At the end of the book, he has hired Mrs. Chung to work for him, and plans to go on business trips to find interesting items to import for his store. He gives the children keys so they can continue to play in the storage yard. He becomes much more sociable and engaged with life, which shows he has changed. Because the Professor changes from a withdrawn, isolated man to a sociable and giving person, it is clear he is a dynamic character.