Was John Bender actually the hero in The Breakfast Club?
So I am curious John Bender is portrayed as a burn-out, soon-to-be on welfare, your future armed robber, killer, burglar, and alcoholic at first in The Breakfast Club. However, as the movie progresses we notice that he seems to have some compassion and might even care more about others than himself at the end. Maybe he was actually the hero. I don't know, but I think he was. Was he?
Best Answer
Breakfast Club producer Ned Tanen:
[Judd] Nelson was the Bogart of his era. The anti-hero hero.
In a sense, they are all "heroes," in that they all go through an ordeal and emerge from it stronger, more fully realized people. Judd Nelson's John Bender, however, does seem to more strongly define the characteristics of the hero's journey.
He initiates the call to adventure with his irreverent behavior, prompting the group to first react to—and interact with—each other. Later, he is responsible for the group's experience of crossing the threshold, in which they venture out of the library in search of Bender's bag of weed. Bender is also an integral part of the Reward step, also known as Seizing the Sword: here, he makes out with Claire (Molly Ringwald) and receives from her a diamond earring stud—which he puts in his ear.
Again, they're all heroic in individual ways, but Bender's fulfillment of classic hero stages is more pronounced and definitive than that of his schoolmates. The iconic final shot of the film, which freeze-frames on Bender punching his fist defiantly, triumphantly skyward, seems to underscore this.
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Why does Bender act the way he does Breakfast Club?
He's the straw that stirs the drink\u2014the spur, the provocateur. Bender's personality is defined by its total compulsiveness: He alternates between wisecracking and indulging his genuine anger, delving into his messed-up family life. Bender will always sacrifice his own wellbeing for a good joke.Who is the protagonist of The Breakfast Club?
John Bender is the lead character within The Breakfast Club, which is because he is the most confident within the movie.What did John Bender do to Claire?
He is seen peeking under Claire's skirt, and the camera flashes to a shot of her underwear. It's implied that Bender then touches her inappropriately. Claire squeals, squeezing Bender's head between her knees. As he emerges from under the desk, Claire slaps him and cusses at him, but keeps a straight face.Who is benders dad in The Breakfast Club?
Mr. Bender is John Bender's father and husband of Mrs. Bender. According to what his son says, he is a deadbeat alcoholic father who doesn't care for his child.What Drives John Bender? | The Breakfast Club | Character Analysis By Therapist
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