Who is Thomas Brutus from The Viy from The Diary of a Madman, the Government Inspector, and Selected Stories and what is their importance?

Thomas Brutus is a philosopy student and deeply flawed man. During a break from school, he joins his friends on a trip to the country. As students, the group is dependent on the kindness of farmers and villagers because they are seminary students without funds. Thomas, however, runs into one old woman who will not feed him simply because he is a seminary student, and he steals from her. Unfortunately for Thomas, the woman is a witch.

Thomas is thus exposed as a hypocrite, only using what he's been taught when it suits his needs. As a result, the witch successfully seeks to punish him. This, however, does nothing to deter Thomas' friends who live with the same hypocrisy.