Hero Sandwich
The title of the book refers to a type of sandwich which may otherwise be regionally known as a sub, hoagie, or grinder is the central image of the story, of course, but exactly how does it work as a symbol? The answer to that question lies in context. This is a novel utterly dependent upon language as it is written in multiple first-person perspectives overflowing with conversational dialect and spelling. The fact that the word “hero” has diminished over time to refer equally to a person committing mythic acts of greatness as well as to two large pieces of bread stuffed with deli meat and vegetables is a symbol of the power of language to convey, confuse, create or corrupt information.
Butler
Benjie’s unofficial stepfather is named Butler Craig. He is only rarely addressed as Craig, however, with the nominal preference being to identify him by his somewhat unusual first name. In fact, it seems as though as his first and last name have been flipped. The constant referencing to him as Butler serves a symbolic purpose. In Benjie’s mind—if not necessarily in fact—Butler’s optimistic views about the future for blacks in America is overemphasized and almost-stepfather is really nothing but a servant for the white man’s agenda; a butler.
Nigeria Greene
Interpreting symbolism in the novel requires an understanding of the significant of perspective. The story is told through first-person perspectives of different characters and not all these characters see things the same way. The central perspective is that of Benjie, however, so most of the symbolic meaning is attached to the way he sees the world around him. On the other hand, the author supplies a stimulus for that symbol such as the name of Benjie’s teacher who fancies himself a Black Nationalist but who, according to Benjie, is a poseur. The name Nigeria indicates this symbolic status as a person whose identity is really nothing but the façade of an adopted persona.
George Washington
On the other hand, Nigeria obviously does not see himself as a poseur. His perspective gives insight into what is actually on the inside behind the person that Benjie can only see as a poseur with a false façade. In his narrative, his perspective focuses on a portrait of George Washington on the wall of his classroom which he viewed as a symbol of the abominably corrupt reality of American versus the “all men are created equal” myth he is expected to teach as factual history.
Movie Stars and Athletes
Movie stars, athletes and other assorted celebrities who are viewed as heroic figures to be emulated by Benjie become another sort of symbol of the way that language is used to manipulate perception. The term hero originated to describe truly epic feats of unusual greatness that actually served to change society. By the 20th century, the term had been whittled down to describe meaningless displays of great ability which ultimately fail to impact society at all.
