Monster Character WiKi

Ben from Night of the Living Dead

By: Meghan Studds

       

         Night of the Living Dead is a 1968 film written and directed by George Romero. Considered as the first modern zombie film, this gruesome work of cinema was accidentally released during matinee show times to youngster audiences. The outrage of this occurrence led to an explosion of ticket sales as people flocked to theaters to see the horror for themselves.  Night of the Living Dead tells the story of a few civilians trapped in a farmhouse and their attempts at escaping the flesh-eating undead clawing at the doors and windows. The protagonist of the film is Ben, played by Duane Jones. Ben is a young, African American man who rescues a female character by the name of Barbra; they seek refuge in an abandoned farm house where they meet several other survivors who are hiding out in the house. Ben is a very strong character and the leader of the group; he is the last remaining survivor of the original group until his own tragic end.

        There is much to consider when analyzing the character of Ben, an African American man with a strong, independent personality. Ben is depicted as an angry character at times throughout the film. He is also intelligent, inventive, and a strong decision-maker and leader. Many aspects of the character are thought-provoking. When considering the time period during which the film was created and premiered, the character of Ben can be symbolic of many issues that were current at the time.

 

        The late 1960s were a time of anxiety and conflict in the United States. During this time, the Civil Rights Movement was coming to an end and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was fresh in the public’s mind. Casting Duane Jones as Ben was a bold move by George Romero. Among the hysteria of the zombie outbreak, Ben works hard to remain calm and rational; however, he does let his anger get the best of him at times. At one point in the film, he strikes Barbra in frustration. It is certain that the casting of an African American man for the character of Ben was disliked by some viewers. The character of Ben can be symbolic of the still present racial tension of the time.

        Ben, as a male character, fits into the popular culture notions of male-leadership at that time. Women were not commonly seen in film as playing leadership roles, so his character as the decision-maker is fitting. Additionally, the character addresses other cultural issues. When Ben gets angry, he acts out in violence. Scenes such as this in the film undoubtedly caused a stir among audiences, as a man should “never hit a woman,” according to popular notions of the time. The fact that Ben was a “violent” man only made the characer more controversial.

 

        Ben is incredibly observant and quickly learns the zombies’ behaviors and weaknesses. He uses this knowledge against the zombies by warding them off with fire. Ben’s resourcefulness directly contributes to the fact that he is the last survivor of his group. Despite Ben’s tact throughout the film, not even he survives the zombie invasion. Ironically, however, Ben does not die in the grips of flesh-eating monsters, but by the bullet of the hillbilly vigilante policemen. Here, Ben is a representation of of the majority of the American public at this time in history. Many people were concerned about the decision-making of the American government and other authority figures. The image of Ben, a true hero, being killed by the ineptitude of the "authority" figures directly reflected the public's hesitation and lack of trust in its leaders.

        Overall, the character of Ben from Night of the Living Dead, is multi-dimensional. Aspects of the personality of Ben, himself can be analyzed; in addition, the character can be looked at through a socially critical lens, as well. He is an excellent representation of gender standards of the 1960s as well as cultural issues such as racism and mistrust of authority.