A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich: Analysis of Major Characters
"A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich" delves into the complex dynamics within a family affected by addiction and emotional turmoil. Central to the narrative is Benjie Johnson, a thirteen-year-old black boy grappling with heroin addiction. His rebellious nature leads him to disrupt the lives of those around him, particularly his mother, Rose Johnson, who works hard to support her family while navigating her love for Craig Butler, a maintenance man she wishes to marry. Benjie feels abandoned and resentful, believing he is responsible for his father's departure, which intensifies his conflicting feelings toward Butler. Rose, caught between her love for Butler and her loyalty to her son, strives to help Benjie overcome his addiction while managing the tensions that arise in their household. Craig Butler, characterized by his easygoing demeanor, seeks to prove himself as a supportive figure amidst the challenges posed by Benjie’s rebellion and the scrutiny from Rose's mother. The interplay of their relationships highlights themes of love, neglect, and the quest for identity within a fractured family structure. This exploration provides a poignant look at the struggles of individuals trying to find their place and support one another in a difficult environment.
A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Alice Childress
First published: 1973
Genre: Novel
Locale: Harlem, New York
Plot: Social morality
Time: Early 1970's
Benjie Johnson, a thirteen-year-old black heroin addict. Benjie is rebellious and searches for meaning in his life while purposely disrupting the lives of his friends and members of his family. He believes that he caused his father to abandon him and his mother. Benjie longs for validation, particularly because he feels like an intruder in his own home, where his mother attempts to show love both to him and to her common-law husband, Craig Butler. Benjie rejects and provokes Butler, forcing his mother to choose between them.
Rose Johnson, Benjie's mother. She is thirty-three years old and works odd jobs to support herself, her son, and her aging mother. She meets and falls in love with Craig Butler, who adores her. She is acutely aware that loving Butler exacerbates the friction in her home, because Benjie is jealous and resentful of Butler. Rose is a willful woman who tries to exorcise Benjie's demon, an addiction to heroin.
Craig Butler, a struggling maintenance man who wants to marry Rose as soon as her divorce is final. Butler is faced with Rose's mother, Mrs. Ransom Bell, who constantly chastises him, and with Benjie, who uses his drug addiction to punish Rose for loving a man who is not his father. Butler strives to show his two detractors that he can be a good provider and source of support for the entire family. An easygoing, even-tempered man, Butler gives balance to the Johnson household.