Ben Character Analysis in Like a House on Fire

At eight-years-old, Ben is the narrator’s eldest son. He has reached the age where he is skeptical of almost everything, is disinterested in family activities, and no longer believes in Santa or flying reindeer. His younger brother, Sam, looks up to Ben as a gauge of how to behave, and his sister, Evie, is frequently perplexed by Ben’s “changeable” behavior, which she is too young to understand. The narrator describes Ben’s attitude as a “grating delinquent surliness” and is saddened by how quickly he is growing up. Just last year Ben was writing innocent notes to Santa, and now he doesn’t even want to decorate the Christmas tree with his siblings.

Ben Character Timeline in Like a House on Fire

The timeline below shows where the character Ben appears in Like a House on Fire. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...from the broken nativity scene, “only the baby Jesus […] remains miraculously unscathed.” His three children—Ben, Sam, and Evie—pay little attention to him as he walks past with the box of... (full context)

...the TV so that they can all decorate the Christmas tree, but his oldest son, Ben, tells him that only Evie is interested. When the narrator checks with Sam (who would... (full context)

...he once more instructs the boys to turn the TV off and help him. When Ben refuses, replying with “delinquent surliness,” the narrator resorts to shouting, commanding the brothers to help.... (full context)

...late—the narrator has already begun his slow and painful descent towards the floor. He instructs Ben to climb the bookshelf to retrieve the remote control, chastising himself sardonically for being the... (full context)

Intimacy, Communication, and Humor Theme Icon

When Claire returns home, Ben tells her about the broken nativity scene and the narrator can sense her unspoken despair... (full context)

As the narrator makes dinner for his children, he is saddened by the realization that Ben is growing up fast. He remembers “with a sudden aching spasm” how the year before... (full context)

...of Evie’s nativity scene, says some encouraging words to Sam, and shares a joke with Ben, thinking that “laughing feels like remembering what it’s like to be fit.” Early in the... (full context)

Once upstairs, the narrator sees that Ben is awake. They share an affectionate moment despite the pain that the narrator is experiencing;... (full context)