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TWbasketcase Hey guys! New topic because I've been thinking of it while writing. I want to know how all the different people around here REALLY interpret John Bender. I know that we have had discussions and debates about certain aspects of him, but I want to know how people really see him (because I know that everyone sees him differently). Firstly, I'm not looking for a right or wrong answer, just an opinion (so this really isn't much of a debate topic, okay?) I've been trying to figure out different - and certain - aspects about his character...so I would like to know what people think. So I'll ask the questions that I want to know the answer to, and you can also add whatever else you think is relevant. I would really appreciate all different kinds of input. 1. How much of what he says or does do you think is a front? Do you think he says/does things for attention? 2. Briefly (but not too detailed) describe what you think his home life & family members might really be like. 3. What is your opinion on the wallet full of girls? 4. Do you think the label 'criminal' actually suits him in a literal sense? 5. He had the guts to stick his head between Claire's legs, but not to make the first move on her...why? 6. What kind of values or beliefs do YOU think he holds dear to him? 7. Do you think that he is scared of Vernon based on the closet scene? 8. How do you think Bender would act on Monday to the rest of the Breakfast Club (don't have to go into insane detail)? 9. How important do you think school is to him? 10. Why do YOU think his behaviour towards Andy & Claire was more vicious, as opposed to his more humourous and laid back behaviour to Allison and Brian? Now you don't have to answer ALL of those questions...especially if you don't really have an opinion on a particular one. An opinion on at least one or two of them would make me happy. I just write his character so much that I'm looking for different ways to take him and approach him, so any input would be great. Pretend its a survey or something! lol. When I get a couple of responses I will post my own ideas about it. I'm totally okay with people agreeing with each other...but I don't want any disagreeing (just because I want opinions, not debates). That would be awesomely cool if you guys could post this stuff for me. :) Cheers! Kristen 3/10/2007 . Edited 7/15/2007 #1
SMH1986 I simply couldn't resist... 1.I like a lot of people, think that John Bender CAN be a big jerky a*. It’s just in his nature. That’s why we love him! But there can be many levels to that jerky assholness. I absolutely believe that a good portion of the stunts he pulls and things he says are all part of the “John Bender Mystique”. Underneath that ruggedly sexy exterior is one hurt soul. So what better way to hide it then to be what we saw in the movie (and occasionally read in fanfic). He’s not going to get any sort of attention at home, at least not the kind he would really want. Probably when he’s not being called names or getting the s* kicked out of him, his parents probably act like he doesn’t even exist. And what child really wants that? To me, John Bender will not go unnoticed. John Bender will not hide, like he probably has to at home. So the only place he could/would get attention would be at school and amongst his peers. And that’s where he’ll get it. 2.Besides the whole Bender’s parents being druggies and alcoholics (which they very well may be) Daddy Bender is a big man. Tall, sturdy, and heavy voice to back it up. To the random person he would be intimidating, but friendly (boisterous). But at home he’s a real SOB, because he doesn’t have anyone to pretend for. He’s pretty much an older, fatter, far more corrupted version of John. Momma Bender, I see her as a little woman. A pretty woman, or at least use to be. H* catholic (hence why she won’t divorce her husband and just leave). I think she loves her husband and hates him. I think she hates herself. But where a lot of people see different, I think she does love her kids. She does love John. She just doesn’t like them (hence the comments during Bender’s “Life at Home” skit). And for the record, I feel that Bender has siblings. He is not an only child (but those siblings are still to be determined, they can’t all be JUST like him). But obviously his home life is not a pleasant one. There are a lot of quiet moments waiting for the yelling to erupt. A lot of tension, a lot of fear. I’m sure there are good moments (there has to be), but if there were a lot, do you think he’d be getting all those detentions? 3.I do like the varying theories on the wallet, but to me…why would he carry around someone else’s girlfriends/friends pictures? Bender doesn’t need to carry around fakes, when I’m sure he can get his own. Consider them his personal little trophies, consider them business cards (we have not seen the girls in these pictures, remember). They are his girls considered. 4.I don’t think the term “Criminal” suits him completely in a literal sense as of now. I mean sure, our little Bender is no saint…but I do not think he is stupid (or has the desire) to go to jail. I believe that more then anything he wants out of Shermer, but I don’t think prison for him is one of the options. Yes, he has committed small misdemeanor crimes…but I don’t see him robbing a bank. Yet (remember Bender is full of surprises). 5.Claire is probably not like most of the girls he’s been with, that’s why (but we all knew that). Sticking his head between her legs was like nothing to him. He knew what reaction the “Cherry” would have. Bender was simply pushing her buttons. But then later on, after everything that had happened, everything they’d shared, things were different. Kissing her was not going to be some game for him, and he knew it. Plus, there’s probably a part of him that doesn’t feel deserving of her. So the ball was going to have to be in Claire’s court. 6.I think Bender holds value of family close to him. Unfortunately, as we can see he doesn’t have the greatest family life, so in place of that would be his friends. Everyone saw how protective he became when Claire mentioned his friends. For him, his friends are his family. Whatever close tight-knit groups he can have, he holds onto. I also feel that loyalty and faithfulness, if you could call those beliefs or values, are another. The last two even surprised me when I thought about it. But it’s true sorta. John has the whole “No Man left behind” mantra during the hallway scene, he could have betrayed them, but he didn’t…And even though I think John talks big (and may even have a wandering eye), I do not think he would be the type of guy to cheat. Ever. I think he’s seen his father’s example and decided to stay away. 7.I don’t think he was truly TRULY scared. John knows how to handle himself (because I’m pretty sure he’s been in a lot of F!@#ed up s*) But as I said earlier, a lot of the tough guy crap he pulls is for show…so he had to be a little intimidated. I mean here he was, locked in a closet with Vernon, not knowing what the guy was going to pull. I’d be a little scared myself. 8.Well with each person it would vary individually. I mean as a whole they work together great, but separately the dynamic is different. Allison is the one person is seems more natural for him to have a friendship with, and the least likely to cause controversy. I don’t think he would shun Brian either, especially after everything that was said on Saturday. Andy it seems would probably not be the first person John would go looking for on Monday, just because of their differences and social backgrounds. Not to say that they couldn’t or wouldn’t have a friendship, but it’s not immediately going to this BFF with them. With Claire…Bender doesn’t strike me as a guy who chases, or who is going to invest his time with just ANY girl if he does. So if John really wants her, he’s going to get her. And I think we all know what’s going to happen here. 9.I think school is not his number one priority. Or even on his top five. But being at school beats being at home. And if he passes by the skin of his teeth and happens to graduate, it just means he’s one step closer to getting out. 10.Because look at what they’ve got, and look at what he’s got. To him, they have got an easier ride. They have certain things (popularity, money, a family who loves them) that he wants. They have things he wants, that they probably take for granted, and he hates that. And what makes it even worse is that he hates that he is resentful of them. It’s this whole angry vicious circle. 3/11/2007 #2
Mari Sofia Well, that is an interesting topic. I've noticed that people seem to have very different opinions about Bender, but here's what I think. 1.I think the things he says are mostly kind of true, except that he exaggerates them to make him seem tougher. 2.Well, his dad is definitely a drunkard, and his mum might be as well. I think his dad was probably a nicer person once, but then he lost his job or started drinking more or something like that and became mean. But I think there might still be a tiny bit of caring between John and his parents, but they never show it to each other. John doesn't have any respect for his parents, though, and that's probably the biggest reason why John's dad gets angry to him. 3.John has definitely had many girls, but again, he might exaggerate a bit. Some of them might be just friends. 4.He has probably done a lot of minor crimes, like shoplifting and street-fights and such, but I don't think he is involved in any bigger crimes, at least yet. 5.Probably because Claire is so different than the other girls he knows. During the day, he likes to get her angry and confused, but perhaps he doubts she would really be interested in him. 6.I think he values honesty. I mean, yes, he probably lies a lot, but I think that if he makes a promise to someone he cares about, he also keeps it. His friends are also important to him, and he seems to even be protective of them. 7.Normally he's not, but he might be a bit in the closet, because Vernon acts so differently than he usually does. 8.I think he would at least say hello to them, and as I want to think they all kept in touch, he would also be part of that. But he wouldn't abandon his other friends or change his lifestyle, either. 9.Not very important. He isn't stupid or anything, but he just doesn't bother to do his homework or pay attention in class, so he mostly gets poor marks. But I think he does want to graduate, though, otherwise he probably would have dropped out already. 10.Because he usually hates that kind of people, and at first he thinks he has nothing in common with them. 3/12/2007 #3
Sadie Lovegood Sadie says... 1. I think the abuse story he has is true, but his 'sexual worldiness' doesn't always convince me. As far as his toughie-style, i think it's a front. He can very well be just as senstitve as the rest of them, but better at hiding it. The look he got during Andy's little monologue, he looked a little down because he knew what it was like not to have an ideal father figure in his life. Also, if he were as tough as he said he was, he would have decked Vernon right in the face when Vernon asked him to in the closet. 2. Dad drinks. Mom is a blonde skank who could care less. Siblings, yes. I never get too detailed on his home life in my stories outside of parents and house, but yes, siblings. I like to envision him with a younger sis, whom he protects from his folks when they get violent (it's a cute image). 3. One word: Fake. 4. Um...yes and no. The pot obviously makes it a 'yes.' But i can't see him robbing a bank or raping someone in a back alley. He's got a mask on. Yeah, he could be arrested for possesion, but it's not like he's pushing it to fifth graders. He's got enough of a softer edge to him...enough, at least, so he can keep himself out of real trouble. 5. LOL...i loved this question! Easy. Head between legs = mischief. Making a real move = serious. John was goofing around when he was doing that. When Claire kissed John, he was REALLY surprised by it...i think so, anyways. Maybe he wasn't expecting it from Claire, so he kept his mouth shut. 6. Obviously Allison. He defended her against Vernon ("She doesn't talk, sir"). Also, treating people fairly. He was always calling Claire out on being the richie and being ashamed of who she really was just to fit in. I also see him as having a small hero complex. The hallway scene where he let them get back to the library while he got in trouble would NOT have been done if he didn't care a little bit about everyone else. Even Sporto. 7. No. I think Vernon is afraid of John (kinda hinted at in the scene in the basement with Carl), but Vernon knows he's in authority and can threaten John and intimidate him. John was intimidated, no afraid. There is a difference. 8. As far as his attitude, no difference. But he would most definitley keep up with the other 4 he met. Otherwise, he'd be a hypocrite for calling Claire out in the circle scene. John is the last person on earth i can see as a hypocrite. 9. I don't think he hates school. I think he just thinks he has more important things to worry about...like not getting clobbered up at home. He sees school as a daily getaway, that's why he plays pranks (fire alarm) and taunts people. It's his time away from home and he needs to enjoy it (could that be why he gets so many detentions...he does the crimes on purpose so he CAN do the time...? If John was a real criminal, he'd skip all those detentions). 10. Again, the hero complex he has comes into play. Andy and Claire are higher up on the social hierarchy, so supposedly they can take care of themselves in the social realm of high school, and John thinsk they aren't as tough and mighty as they seem. Brian and Allison are on pretty much an equal footing with him, so maybe there's a secret kinship thingy hidden there somewhere? Maybe John felt he could ally with them even if there WASN'T The Breakfast Club? Something to think about... I have another few questions i wanna know what people think about... 11.) If nothing happened between he and Claire...do you think he'd try to turn to Allison instead? 12.) If his father's so abusive...why doesn't he just report his father to someone? 13.) Do you think he sacrificed himself so everyone else could get back to the library because of Claire? Or someone else? What do you think motivated that selfless act? 14.) Where do you think John saw Allison before? (not too much detail) ~Sadie 3/12/2007 #4
SMH1986 11. Personally, I don’t think John was all that interested in Allison to begin with. So why would he turn to her later if Claire and he didn’t work? I mean sure they could definitely develop a friendship come Monday (for them two, it’s the most feasible). But romantically…I just don’t feel it. There is just no real fire there (it would be like Andy and Claire hooking up). John would look to her as a pal, maybe even a sister, and find someone else. 12. He probably doesn’t believe reporting it will change anything, will make anything better. Maybe he thinks no one will believe him (Andy didn’t at first). 13. I do feel that Bender has the good of the whole group sort of at heart, but if you notice…he is looking directly at Claire when he says “No, just me.” 14. I think Allison kind of believes that no one really sees her (or is at least so use to that at home)…watch she probably has a class with John or something. Or at least when he goes. 3/12/2007 #5
TWbasketcase Wow, those were some pretty interesting responses! Thanks a lot for the insight guys, I really appreciate it! And SMH, welcome to the forums finally! You see Bender a lot differently than I do, but the way you see him is completely different than I've ever heard before. I really liked a lot of your ideas; I had never thought about him that way before! So I guess I will put up my own ideas (I'll do mine first and then Sadie's questions). 1. I don't think that Bender fronts when he is serious. I think that there is a possibility that he may say or do some things as a bit of a 'tester' before actually coming out and saying something that he means. I honestly believe that he feeds off of the reactions of other people - good or bad - so depending on what he is trying to get out of the situation, he would probably have no problem exaggerating the truth. I don't think that he is a liar per say, but I do think that he would have no problem messing with someone else's head. 2. At first I deemed him an only child. Then I started playing around with my OC's and the idea REALLY stuck on me. Siblings give him something to hold on to (possibly), and I think they would make the picture much more humanized and not the cliched never-ending-beat-down-palace. With my past involvements (living in the shoddy end of town, running away, floating around the punk scene) I met a lot of people who came from broken homes, and a lot of the portrayals of Bender's house in my fics are based on situations I've encountered. For some reason, most of the families actually had A LOT of kids. I HATE the cliched idea that Bender was only born to a broken home just because he was a mistake. People don't (for the most part) develop severe emotional problems and substance dependencies - as severe as Bender hinted - from ordinary mistakes like that. Usually those sorts of problems develop following some sort of extremely stressful or traumatic situation. I LOVE exploring the idea that Bender Sr is a war vet. Perfect family, perfect home, and a draft to 'Nam destroys it all. The Bender family - I think - is A LOT more complex than most people would think, which makes it hard to detail it all in a paragraph, lol. 3. The wallet full of girls is an enigma to me. On one hand, I could see Bender carrying it around to get a rise out of people. On the other hand, I DO NOT see him as inexperienced. BUT I have a hard time believing that he would give that many girls the time of day when he - obviously - has A LOT of inner emotional problems to deal with. Maybe they were all exes? Maybe they were all just friends? Who knows? Maybe they were his sisters? LMAO. 4. I see Bender as reckless and wild. The actual label of 'criminal' I think is a lot more than just being a robber, a r*, or a murderer. Can I see him Vandalizing? Yes. Can I see him assaulting someone? Yes. Can I see him harassing someone? Yes. Can I see him getting in a drug related mess? Yes. I see him doing things spur of the moment, and if that includes getting caught doing something stupid, then fine. True, I would ditch the detentions (hell when I got assigned 80 in my grade 12 year, I think I only made it to four of them...), but maybe he finds some weird pleasure in showing up to them. Do I see him as a criminal in a literal sense? Yes, but I do believe he would probably grow out of it. 5. I agree wholeheartedly that the under the table schtick was for mischief, while the kiss was get real time. I think that going under her skirt was NOT an act of hormones at all, but rather a way to further the act of pushing her buttons. I don't think he ever even considered having her until she came to him - I think he would have smacked himself in the head for having the thought, lol. I think once she came to him, things in his mind changed. 6. I think he holds a number of things dear to him. I think the first and foremost would be what friends he does have. He defended them rather angrily and quickly, so that has to account for something. I also think that his pride is a big thing for him too. He doesn't want to be seen as a p* or someone who can't do anything. Loyalty is another one, which showed when he took the fall for the hallway act. So yeah, Friends, Pride, and Loyalty. Also, I think in a sick and demented way family might be another, but like I said, its too complex to get into in one paragraph. If anyone wants to get more into it though, by all means ask me and I will! :D 7. I think his treatment of Vernon throughout the movie was mostly an act for the others. I don't think John would go out of his way to act the way he did if they were somewhere else - say on a street in Chicago. Like I stated above, he feeds off of reactions and teasing Vernon is a great way to get them. The closet scene - I think - was a little more than he bargained for, and it DEFINITELY got to him. The look on his face can't be denied. 8. I think that Bender would have no problem talking to any of them if it sparked a reaction. If anyone's friends were idiots, then he would have no problem flipping them off. I don't think that he would be all cheesy and gay and say stuff like, "Do you want to be my friend?"...nor do I think he would be as nearly as sensitive about it, as say, Brian would be. I think John would be rather laid back and just approach it all casually. I also agree that he would not change his whole life for it, nor would he ditch his old friends. 9. I think school is important to him in at least some small way. He shows up for detention, he likes (at least) his shop class, and he hasn't dropped out. Do I believe he would ever wind up on the Honour's List? HELL NO. I hate when people write him reciting Shakespeare ands spouting off formulas to show that he really is smart underneath it all. Do I think he is smart? Very, but not in the academic gearing for college kind of way. 10. I think that he was more vicious to Andy and Claire because they were everything that he could never be. They had everything that he could never have. They were accepted, loved, and wanted. I don't think that he was jealous of them, nor do I think that he wanted to be like them, but I do think that he was bitter and they got under his skin. I think after living a tough life the thought of someone having a silver spoon in their mouth disgusted him, and he would love to be able to bring them 'down' to his level in any way possible. I think that Brian was someone who could amuse him and made him laugh, and Brian posed no threat. I believe they have the capability to form an awesome - and unlikely - friendship. And Allison, sigh, my thoughts on Allison are rather complex. I believe that he saw Allison on the same level as him - just like any other kid that would hang out in their section at school, or live in their end of town. She would be someone that would be easy for him to accept, and therefore he wouldn't have to bother her. I just wanted to add that I love the idea of him coming from a Catholic family! That suits him very well (and I'm pretty sure that he would be the type to give up on faith of any kind), but it would say a lot for his parents. I LOVE that idea! Kristen 3/12/2007 #6
TWbasketcase Sadie's questions, lol. Interesting choices, I must say...and I probably have a lot to say, so brace yourself! LOL. 1. I don't think that John would turn to Allison just because things didn't work out with Claire. Obviously (as anyone who has read my stuff could tell) I do like the idea of them together. I think realistically it would take A LOT more than things not working with Claire and Andy for them to get together. The way I like to look at them is that they can REALLY relate to one another - broken homes, outcasts, rebelliousness, attention seekers, and both are a little on the wild side. I'd be the first to admit that I like them together because THEY ARE FUN! If they ever did get together, it would be spontaneous, probably under funny circumstances, random, and in a strange, messed up world that only the two of them would understand, lol. Now that I've had so much time to analyze this pairing more, I can't see them falling into each other's arms over severe emotional dependency. They would get freaky in the sack, or they would tease the hell out of each other until they couldn't take it any more...that kind of thing. However, if they got together it would not be right after the detention, not as a rebound, and not for emotional dependency. So my answer to your particular question is no...but as you can see I find it just a little more different than how you worded it. Getting any two people together in the Breakfast Club - that weren't a canon couple to begin with - I think would stem from FRIENDSHIP FIRST. NONE OF THEM would get together just because someone else rejected them...I can't see any of them being that shallow after how 'close' they got in detention with one another. I could see a potential relationship between almost any pair (save for certain slashes, lol), but it would stem from friendship and understanding. Bender and Allison would develop a friendship first and it would turn into more that way. 2. Normally people who are abused in a relationship or family setting NEVER report it. If you saw the statistics of the amount of people who actually report such crimes, as opposed to those who don't, you would be shocked. Especially in the past...people are a lot more open to that sort of thing in this day in age, but in the past abusive situations were usually kept private. I can tell you from personal experiences (which we won't get into) that people don't report mainly because of fear. If someone is manipulative, powerful, and brave enough to hurt you in such a way, the possibilities of what they COULD do are endless in the victim's mind. Another reason is that they are pretty much 'trained' (for lack of a better term) by the abuser to accept what they get and that they deserve it. They're 'trained' to live their life a certain way, and sometimes they can't accept change of any kind. The victim knows it's wrong, but that's the hand that life dealt them. They call it tough love. I also think that Bender would be way to prideful to ever let some government-funded organization come in and treat him like a poor, defenseless victim. He's hardened, and he knows it, and I think that he would take whatever was dished to him whether he liked it or not. 3. I don't think that Claire alone motivated him to sacrifice himself. I think Bender does in a weird way have a sort of hero complex, and I also believe that pride and loyalty (again) play a big part in the things that he does (when he isn't joking around). He's a serious guy - and knows what consequences to expect. I also think that he knows that Brian, Claire, etc are good kids and wouldn't be very happy at all if they were to get into even more trouble. Once again, Bender knows how to take the heat and will take what's dished to him. I don't think that any one thing or person motivated him to do what he did, I think it was just a number of different things (most of them the same factors and qualities that make up his charming personality, lol). Another thing to think about (although I don't necessarily agree with it, but it could be considered) was that it was a way for him to one-up Andrew. Andy made an a** out of him and then took them the wrong way and trapped them. Bender knew all along that they were going the wrong way - and he could have turned back at any time, but didn't. I think he could've wanted to wait and see Andrew do something wrong and stupid just so that he could turn around and do the 'right' thing. That actually doesn't sound so bad now that I read it, lol... 4. Where did John see her before? I think the most realistic possibility was that he seen her at school where the rest of the freaks hang out. Hughes hinted that Shermer High has a courtyard (in PiP), and that all of the 'outsiders' go out there to chill with each other, or by themselves. I think realistically its the most reasonable situation, but who knows? I've had him run her over in the caf, meet her at a punk club, seen her looming creepily in the hallways...who knows, maybe they saw each other in Hashimoto's office? ;) Cool questions :) Kristen 3/12/2007 #7
SMH1986 I know, I know…I’m FINALLY here! I guess you could say I caved and gave into the “peer pressure”. You made me do it! lol Thank you for embracing my slight difference in opinion on Bender. You never know how strongly readers feel about a certain character and how he/she should be written, so it’s good to know that at least one person won’t have a hit on me. I honestly didn’t even realize I had such an opinion on him, all I knew was that I loved (LOVE) his character beyond words (I have such a soft spot for boys like him). I’m still getting use to the many surfaces he presents for me though. Hopefully after some more mulling, I’ll finally be able to get my butt in gear and start writing something. And yeah, isn’t that Catholic idea totally awesome!!! Sorry random… Even though our views are a little insy bit different, I do agree with on a couple of points Kristen. 1.I too think that when Bender is serious, Bender is serious. There is no “John Bender Mystique” there. 2.The Bender family being a lot more complex then people make it, absolutely. 3.I kind of sort of take back my answer to number 4. Only because if I take Bender in the direction I want to take…I’d be a complete and total hypocrite to that answer. So now I have a question for all of you… 15. John and Claire. The beginning of Saturday/The end of Saturday (Where does it stem)? Why? The initial attraction? Why it might last? Why it might not? That was a whole bunch of questions rolled into one, but work with it. Yours till Niagara Falls, Sam P.S. This would be really good to do for other characters as well. Besides the character profiles on the forum, it would allow writers to go more in depth with how they see each BC member. And we get to socialize more! 3/13/2007 #8
TWbasketcase Hey Sam! I'm glad that I am allowed to take all the blame for peer pressuring you! LOL. You just seemed like the type of person who would fit in well here, so I couldn't help myself :D I think the reason I really enjoy the Catholic idea is because it gives a sense of reason, you know? I think the divorce thing is an excellent example. I also think that because there is that whole wife to serve husband and have his children thing (that was worded SO badly, I'm sorry, lol) aspect of Christianity it could also explain why Mrs Bender would have a number of children with a man who so obviously doesn't treat her and them well. I think the Bender family is extremely dysfunctional, but albeit kinda old-fashioned...and that is where the religion could fit in with his mother. I really do like that! I am in FULL agreement with you about his character. I loved him! There are so many different layers of him, and so many different ways you can take him. I like the fun AND the dark sides to him. He is BY FAR (by a landslide!) my favourite character to write, the one I have written most, and the one I am most comfortable writing. I hope you start writing him soon too! lol. So question 15...John and Claire. I have A MILLION opinions on them, and obviously my opinions have changed on them since I started coming around here two years ago. AT first I hated them together. I thought that they had nothing but a lustful chemistry that was cliched and boring. I hated the idea of them trying to look past each others' differences because I honestly felt at the time that they wouldn't work. I thought that she would p*** him off too much, that she would be shallow and try to change him, etc etc etc. In fact, I think I loved nothing more than breaking them up at the time, lol. Obviously now I think differently, so I will move on to that... I'll start with the initial attraction, and Claire. I think that it began with intrigue and temptation. A lot of people are not only disgusted by their opposites, but are also drawn into the fact that that person is someone that they 'shouldn't' have. Claire has probably had some experiences with preppy, popular, jock boys whom she may have seen as superficial, shallow, or cheesy. I think the idea that her parents had a template of the type of guys that she should date would probably have a great effect on her as well. She is expected to do and like a variety of different things, and to her John Bender would be someone who is untouchable and off limits. He also had no problem telling her the truth and being outright, as opposed to sugarcoating things and lying (say to get in her pants?) John had no problem telling her what she already knew about herself that other people might not have seen. I also think John provided a sense of excitement and kept her on her toes, which may have been something that she wasn't exactly used to. I think at the end of the day she wanted to reach out to him; that intrigue turned more into understanding. I think she liked the idea of having someone that she could rely on to tell her the truth, to have fun with (and take her away from her other miserable relationships), and to kinda go against the grain of her parent's expectations for her. As for John, Claire is fresh, pure, innocent - everything that he isn't. I think that all of the qualities that he 'hates' about her are the ones that really attract him to her. I think early on it started off as a game but the temptation just turned it into something more. I think he learned enough about her to figure that the 'game' that he saw in her at the beginning of the day was A LOT different than the GIRL he was attracted to at the end... I think it could last, or it might not - it could go either way. I think that the fact that the both of them are a breath of fresh air to each others' seemingly miserable life would play a factor in them working. I think they'd both be playing dangerously by being together - both for different reasons of course - and I think that that factor would draw them both back to each other again and again. They would keep each other on the edges of their seats, and I think that they would also draw a lot of passion from one another. There is a great chemistry there, and having a chemistry like that one with somebody can be addicting...for better or worse. On the contrary,I think that the parallels in their personalities could draw them apart if they didn't make it work. They are both VERY STUBBORN and VERY HONEST. The stubborn aspect of it would be - I think - their greatest downfall. Would they be able to sacrifice things in their lives to be together? Depends. Would they be willing to accept change in their lives? They both love different things, would they be willing to accept the others' habits and qualities while sometimes brushing their own off to the side in return? I think that depends too, and they would both be willing to draw lines. And the fact that they are both brutally honest is a somewhat good thing, but that can also lead to A LOT of hurt feelings (which is EXACTLY what we saw in the movie). Whether or not they can deal with that much emotional stress is yet to be seen. And as a side note, that is where they are COMPLETELY different from Andy and Allison. I see AA as way more curious and open-minded, while I see JC as more of an attracted force whether good or bad. I think AA would have an easier time accepting each other because they are just so curious about the other. JC just can't decide whether or not they want to be nice, be mean, rip each other's clothes off or what, lol. What do you guys think of this question? Also, my next question is this: 16. How do you picture Bender's group of friends? Kristen PS - Definitely agree that this type of discussion helps with the plot bunnies and the character development, lol. If I needed one of these for anyone it would be Brian. He is the HARDEST character for me to write because I have a hard time figuring him out, lol. When I come up with some Brian questions, I'll let you guys know, lol. 3/14/2007 #9
SMH1986 You are the most brilliant person alive Kristen!!!! I dub you my hero and I shall make flyers and banners and buttons too. Now, why you ask? Because…a plot bunny (or at least part of one) just vomited all over my lap because of this topic and our discussions. AND IT’S SO EXCITING!!! I finally figured what the hell I might just do, instead of just wandering around aimlessly in my creativity. ::Does Happy Dance:: Alrighty, dancing over. lol I completely agree with you on what you said for my question about JC and their relationship (not the part about how you use to hate them together, but the actual chemistry). It’s almost scary how dead on you were with what I was thinking. This also further proves an idea that I have and want to use for my “story”. But now for your question. 16. I think John has A LOT of acquaintances ( I think you get to when you probably have the wild social life he has). But as for close, dear friends? I’d say in John’s group there are only a handful of them. A few “good” men. Boys who have known John forever, and have been with him through many adventures (I think John would have friends that were girls, but not close friends). I’d like to say I could give specific examples, on what they might look like, what their personalities might be, but all I can really think is that they’d have to understand him. Understand where he comes from. I don’t think John would let just anyone into his inner circle. It’s a trust thing. And they’d have to be cool (or what he considers cool in his book). I was watching “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” this morning and I absolutely think Bender could be friends with the character that Charlie Sheen played in the Police Dept. Later Gator! Sam P.S. Yeah I would definitely need one of these for Brian…and for Andy. And maybe for Allison too. I’m actually a little afraid to tackle Allison, just because (again) she is so complex like our Bender. Claire is my easiest mountain to climb just because I think I understand her emotional self pretty well. Let’s just go nuts 3/14/2007 #10
TWbasketcase ME?! Brilliant?! Wow! I'm glad for that and the fact that you had a puking plot bunny! I guess that is better than them having maniacal sex on you! hehehe. But I am glad for it and I can't wait to see what you come up with! 16. I am so in love with the idea of John's friends...that's why I started a story that is devoted to them! I agree that he would have a lot of acquaintances, and just a handful of close friends. They would probably do the most craziest messed up stuff together too. I think that the number of people that he would actually trust would be limited, so that being said I honestly believe that he would have a friend or two that is relatively level-headed. Perhaps he even has friends that he looks up to as well. Of course he will probably have some really goofy ones that give him a laugh. I can so easily picture his whole group and I'm way more obsessed with his gang than I am with say Claire's group of friends. John's whole dynamic and entourage just intrigues the hell out of me. And Charlie Sheen in Ferris would be great! I never thought of that before! :D Sadie actually started an Allison thread already, so you should head on over! Allison is fun too. I want to get on the other characters too, and now I just have to hope that all the people that used to hang around here are actually still in love with the movie and come back and chat, lol. I think this is a great tool to help with writing. Kristen 3/14/2007 #11
D.L. SchizoAuthoress Hey, D.L. SchizoAuthoress/Del Schiz here. I already answered about my favorite of favorites, Brian Johnson, and decided to work my way through all the characters. What fun! 1. How much of what he says or does do you think is a front? Do you think he says/does things for attention? I think there may be some things he does because he is "expected" to...a lot of his back-talk to Vernon, or smart-assed baiting of Andy and Claire, for example. But some of it is rooted in real anger toward his life and station in life. EVERYTHING he does is for attention. I think it's possible that his parents neglected him to some degree, especially emotionally, and he has made the connection that any attention = good. Whether it's simply for attention or not is a little less certain. 2. Briefly (but not too detailed) describe what you think his home life & family members might really be like. I think his dad really was like he described, to a point. A lot of times, we focus on really powerful memories, and bad ones...bad, powerful memories especially. There may have been times that his dad beat him, screamed at him, and maybe a few incidents like the cigar-burn -- but I doubt it was a daily thing. I still remember particularly violent aspects of my dad from seven years ago, so yeah. I think that his mom has threatened to walk out, or has done so before, but never for long. The kind of "can't break away" relationship that has outsiders to it (even the children) wondering how that woman can be SO STUPID... 3. What is your opinion on the wallet full of girls? I think it's true (regardless of my fanfic challenge). And I think that Bender's an "equal opportunity" kind of guy...if a girl gives him that chance, he'll give her the chance. Because to be honest, I never really bought that she was the first "nice girl" he got with...or the whole "Bender/Claire, they redeem each other" subtext-thread running through the movie, the idea that she was just so right for him. I think, he decided to challenge himself by getting the "prom queen" to want him...and accidentally found himself wanting her back, you know what I mean? 4. Do you think the label 'criminal' actually suits him in a literal sense? He deals drugs, carries around a flick knife, gets into fights easily, destroys public property, and stole (Brian's food and a door screw). I'd say that was literally criminal behavior. 5. He had the guts to stick his head between Claire's legs, but not to make the first move on her...why? One action is just sex (physical), and the other is love (emotional), of a sort. Bender is, at his core, emotionally damaged. It's unfamiliar territory to him. Emotional areas are where he's been hurt the most. 6. What kind of values or beliefs do YOU think he holds dear to him? Survival of the fittest. 7. Do you think that he is scared of Vernon based on the closet scene? I don't think Bender fears the everyday Vernon (Vice-principalis Barimanilowalike) that he sees. I think he feared the crazy Vernon that was ready to throw down on him, because that kind of rage (and possibly that kind of duality of reaction) is what he deals with in his father. 8. How do you think Bender would act on Monday to the rest of the Breakfast Club (don't have to go into insane detail)? I doubt that Bender would change his behavior, really. Not as quickly as Monday. His pre-Club friends are very important to him ("Don't you ever talk about my friends! You don't know my friends..."), and I doubt that he would jeopardize those relationships for the sudden friendships with the other four Clubbers. 9. How important do you think school is to him? I doubt that it is very important. Personally, I think he was held back once, and works just hard enough to prevent it from happening again. I see him as the oldest Clubber. 10. Why do YOU think his behaviour towards Andy & Claire was more vicious, as opposed to his more humourous and laid back behaviour to Allison and Brian? I think Bender felt that Andy and Claire needed to be taken down a peg or two, in contrast to Allison (who acted the same around everyone) and Brian (who was quite outwardly deferential to him). Remember that Andy and Claire had an instant rapport over how much "better" than the others they were...I think Bender saw that, and it made him mad. 3/26/2007 #12
D.L. SchizoAuthoress Ooh, did not see these other questions! I'll answer them, too. 11.) If nothing happened between he and Claire...do you think he'd try to turn to Allison instead? No, no, no, no! In my mind, Bender and Allison have the kind of friendship that is too intimate to ruin with "intimacy". with being romantically involved. Uh-uh. He's got a whole wallet of girls to choose from, no need to go after friends. 12.) If his father's so abusive...why doesn't he just report his father to someone? I think that Bender knows there is some truth in what Vernon said to him in the closet: "It's your word against mine...and who would believe you?" It would be HARD for him to get someone to listen, let alone do something. Maybe he thinks it's not worth the hassle... 13.) Do you think he sacrificed himself so everyone else could get back to the library because of Claire? Or someone else? What do you think motivated that selfless act? Saying that he sacrificed himself just for Claire, or even just for any one person, kind of lessens the impact of the act. I think he did it for everyone. Speaking from experience here...maybe he figured that he could handle whatever Vernon threw at him, while the others probably couldn't. Obviously, Bender is a familiar face at Saturday detentions, and the others aren't. 14.) Where do you think John saw Allison before? (not too much detail) Maybe Hashimoto's office? 15. John and Claire. The beginning of Saturday/The end of Saturday (Where does it stem)? Why? The initial attraction? Why it might last? Why it might not? Good God, I hate this couple. With a fiery passion do I hate them together. I can't formulate a good answer. 16. How do you picture Bender's group of friends? I figure that the core group of his friends are people of similar ilk, while he has a whole network of different kinds of people he counts as not-as-close friends...none of the "Richys" though. Somehow, the idea of Bender getting one of the Brains to do his homework and then befriending them for a totally odd reason just appeals to me. 3/26/2007 #13
TWbasketcase Good god, DL! I swear to god if this was me three years ago I would have had the EXACT same answers as you! Especially pertaining to John and Claire, lol. I agree with you on so many of your points, and I think that you have such an EXCELLENT grasp on his character that most people fail to see (in my opinion). I have always much preferred the dark side of Bender to the 'other' side of him (especially that romantical dog s*** side of him, lol). Your answers were very informative! Thanks a lot for taking the time to do them! I even loved your answer for the Bender/Allison question. Good job! ~Kristen 3/28/2007 #14
Sadie Lovegood I have another question... 17.) If John is such a "criminal" then why doesn't he just skip dententions? His parents obviously don't give a rat's a** about it, as he couldn't get a ride. Why do you think he would he bother every Saturday? ~Sadie 4/30/2007 #15
TWbasketcase Hm, I would imagine that there would be plenty of different answers for this question. Being someone who had a detention record in high school (80 consecutive baby! LOL), when you skip you get more. Its not matter (at least for me it wasn't) of getting suspended for it, they just keep piling them on. And knowing how Vernon just does that anyways, I would say that that is probably the case. Secondly, he probably doesn't have much else to do. If you weigh his options you have this: go to detention, or stay at home with the parents. What's it going to be? Obviously he wouldn't be hanging out with his friends at 7am on a Saturday, so he'd probably rather be someplace else than home. Thirdly, I would bet money that he has skipped detentions, probably many times. He just had to show up to that one so that he could be in the movie ;) 4/30/2007 #16
TWbasketcase Got some new ones for my home-boy too. 1. Religion (for him, not his family). Yes? No? Maybe? Why? 2. If you were to envision in your mind one good childhood memory for John, what would it be? 3. Do you think he's ever been in love? 4. If John had one major fear, what do you think that would be? 5. Claire puts lipstick on with her b***, Allison writes with her feet, Andy tapes bums, and Brian makes spaghetti. What the hell does John do? 5/14/2007 #17
MidnightBlue88 1. Darn, I read that question wrong at first and got my answer all ready, so I'm going to answer it my way anyway, just because. :) For his family, I can see them being kind of generic believers in God, where it's kind of a given that He exists, but they don't make a big fuss of it. I can maybe even see his mom going to church sometimes, or at least being a more devoted believer on her own. For John, I can see it going a couple of ways. The first is that he fervently DOESN'T beleve in God. He might see it as something that only naive people or idiots believe in, and he isn't going to be dumb enough to fall for that crap. The second option is that he does believe in God, but sees Him as something that doesn't have anything to do with him. Like He exists or whatever, but John's not his favorite kid and He doesn't really pay much attention to him, so John returns the favor. I don't have answers for the other questions yet, but I may be back. In the meantime, MY muse is pretty much having a big, fat freak-out session in my head right now, so I'm going to go try to write something and see if she calms down long enough to let me go to sleep anytime soon. -K 5/14/2007 #18
Sadie Lovegood 1. Religion (for him, not his family). Yes? No? Maybe? Why? Hmmm....I can't see him being a Jesus-freak. EVen if it was Buddhism or paganism, I don't think Bender would be the type to go too deep into religion in any form. It'd make an interesting one-shot if John secretly went to a confession or some kind of religious ceremony and see what would happen. 2. If you were to envision in your mind one good childhood memory for John, what would it be? NOT with the 'rents, no doubt. I write him as having a father figure in either a neighbor or a grandparent. I can see Bender escaping his troubles by running to his neighbor's house and pigging out until things settled down a bit. 3. Do you think he's ever been in love? Maybe once. Not with any of those girls in his wallet. 4. If John had one major fear, what do you think that would be? Something really obsure and out there, something you wouldn't expect the great John Bender to be afraid of. Old people? LOL, not THAT bad! Like maybe water, dentists, or some whack-job family member. Or he could have a really DEEP fear, liek rejection or loneliness. 5. Claire puts lipstick on with her b***, Allison writes with her feet, Andy tapes bums, and Brian makes spaghetti. What the hell does John do? Other than lighing a match with his teeth (which I tried, trust me, it didn't work out), John has a remarkable talent for storytelling (Life at Big Bri's House). I can see John working wonders with his guitar/bass too! ~Sadie 5/14/2007 . Edited 5/14/2007 #19
TWbasketcase 1. Religion (for him, not his family). Yes? No? Maybe? Why? I really see him as someone that gave up on his faith (if he ever initially had it) long ago. John's pretty hardened, and he isn't really an optimistic kind of person. He's pretty negative, and cynical, and I have a hard time seeing someone devote themselves to god with that sort of attitude. That being said, I can't see him as a satanist either, nor someone who cares too much about nature, or spirituality in one's self. If anything, John would be the type to say that Alien's were god. LOL. But probably in a sesh or something. 2. If you were to envision in your mind one good childhood memory for John, what would it be? I have this little scene in my head that I can imagine John doing as a little kid. His dad is at work and gone for the afternoon, and his mom is sleeping on the couch. It's raining pretty heavily outside, but he has nothing better to do...and he wants to play. So he sneeks out the door and just plays in the rain with his truck, or something. His hair's soaked, his clothes are muddy as hell, but he's laughing and smiling. :) 3. Do you think he's ever been in love? That's REALLY hard to say. I'm leaning more towards the no side - probably only bothering with short term girlfriends, flings, and on-again, off again stints. But it is possible. If he had been in love before, I would bet that it ended badly and rubbed him the wrong way. Which may explain why he tends to be a bit of a womanizer. 4. If John had one major fear, what do you think that would be? If John was scared of anything, I think it would be something really funny like cottonballs. If it were a deep rooted type of fear, I think it would be abandonment or rejection from those he cares about. 5. Claire puts lipstick on with her b***, Allison writes with her feet, Andy tapes bums, and Brian makes spaghetti. What the hell does John do? I can also see him being a musician. But since that's so popular, I will say dancer ;) He had some hot moves. 5/14/2007 #20
Sadie Lovegood Just wondering... 6) What do you think John would have to say about the world today as compared to 1984? 7) If John had a 'sinful pleasure' or a secret liking for somthing that he was ashamed of, what would it be? 8) If John had children, how do you think he would treat them, and what kind of "fatherly advice" would he give them (for all intensive purposes, lets say he IS married with children)? 9) What do you think John would be like had he grown up in the 1950's...when everyone was all "Leave it to Beaver"-ish? (just think it would be funny!) ~Sadie 5/15/2007 #21
TWbasketcase Oh these look interesting. 6) What do you think John would have to say about the world today as compared to 1984? I think that he would fit in a lot better, but he would hate it. I mean, he would probably enjoy the video games, but other than that there's so much more technological advancement, more money sucking aholes, and more scum bags walking the streets. But like I said, people are a little more accepting these days of people 'like him' (I hate to say that), but at the same token the world seems more cut throat than it did in the 80's. I think he would still be miserable either way. 7) If John had a 'sinful pleasure' or a secret liking for something that he was ashamed of, what would it be? That he has a little puppy that he lets sleep on his bed at night. That or he still watches GI Joe and Spiderman cartoons :D 8) If John had children, how do you think he would treat them, and what kind of "fatherly advice" would he give them (for all intensive purposes, lets say he IS married with children)? That's a toughy. I can't see him being all strict and aholish like Andy's dad, for example. And I also cannot see him spoiling his kids either...like Claire's dad. That would p*** him off to no end. I think he would be the friendly type who is pretty easygoing with his kids, but would get annoyed to no end if they got into trouble - not mad, but annoyed. I think one thing he would be adament on teaching his kids is that if they want something, they have to work for it. 9) What do you think John would be like had he grown up in the 1950's...when everyone was all "Leave it to Beaver"-ish? (just think it would be funny!) Not leave it to Beaver-ish, that's for sure. He would've been one of those brats that rode around on his bike chasing people and tipping cows or something. He would've probably grown up in a farm house with lots of cleaning that he had to do - but didn't like doing. 5/15/2007 #22
Sadie Lovegood My answers... 6) What do you think John would have to say about the world today as compared to 1984? Kristen, you are sooo right on the fact that he'd be more accpeted. I actually think he'd lose some of his 'criminal-ness' in a modern day city, especially close to Chicago. The ghetto-black drug dealers would tower over him and probably mug him and stuff. Poor Bender would really have to learn to be 'black' to remain as criminal as he was in 1984. I could see him going deaf after running out his iPod, no doubt. And the 300 p*** channels with the HBO packages and such would drive him crazy. I don't think he'd appreciate school as much. Whereas in 1984, the teachers might have given up on him after awhile, he'd be diagnosed with about 1,000 different social diseases by senior year and get his head shrunk 3 times a week. 7) If John had a 'sinful pleasure' or a secret liking for somthing that he was ashamed of, what would it be? John just so HAPPENS to have a weakness for kittens! (LOL) I can picture him hugging a little meowing fuzzball when he hears his parents duking it out in the kitchen. 8) If John had children, how do you think he would treat them, and what kind of "fatherly advice" would he give them (for all intensive purposes, lets say he IS married with children)? I think I've said this before, but i see John as being a Red Forman-type dad. A hard *ss some of the times, but deep down loving his kids, just rarely letting it surface. Although not as easily disappointed in any sons he has, though. He'd just be happy if the kids didn't fall into the hellish life he fell into in his own youth. And i doubt John would leap into Operation: Desert Storm and emerge a hard-core commie killer. ^^ 9) What do you think John would be like had he grown up in the 1950's...when everyone was all "Leave it to Beaver"-ish? (just think it would be funny!) I think he'd be a greaser. A 'rebel without a cause' if you will. Definitley not the Sonny-boy you see in all those 50's ads. He'd be the kind to smoke in school and put his boots up on the desk in homeroom with the leather jacket and shaggy hair, never taking his sunglesses off. ~Sadie 5/15/2007 #23
TWbasketcase drools greaser Bender is such a hot image. I know I've mentioned it many times, but god I love greaser boys, lol. 5/15/2007 #24
MoonRose91 1. How much of what he says or does do you think is a front? Do you think he says/does things for attention? I think that some of the more violent side is a front. Bender never seemed like the type to fight, despite all his big talk. He'll start an argument and he's not above verbally sparring, but actual violence seems to be a 'pushed too far' kind of thing for him, despite his threatening Andy. 2. Briefly (but not too detailed) describe what you think his home life & family members might really be like. Home life is abusive. His father is a large presence, a drunk, and loves to degrade those "below" him, like his wife and children. His mother was probably once nice, but years of abuse, most likely just in the verbal sense (maybe even physical) caused her to feel self-hatred, but she instead turned it into verbally abusing John. I also think he might have a sibling around, but just because he has that 'protective' instinct that seems to pop up throughout the movie. 3. What is your opinion on the wallet full of girls? That he likes to collect the pictures, in my opinion. They might just be friends or 'ex's or even friends with benefits. 4. Do you think the label 'criminal' actually suits him in a literal sense? No. Besides the pulling of the fire alarm and the drugs, it doesn't seem to suit him. 5. He had the guts to stick his head between Claire's legs, but not to make the first move on her...why? no comment 6. What kind of values or beliefs do YOU think he holds dear to him? no comment 7. Do you think that he is scared of Vernon based on the closet scene? I think he was scared because Vernon acted like his father, the one person he might actually fear. 8. How do you think Bender would act on Monday to the rest of the Breakfast Club (don't have to go into insane detail)? Allison and Brian would be more of an open thing, though I see him teasing Andy (maybe even harshly)...but I can see John doing something to Claire to get her attetion and admit to things by ganging up on her with Allison. 9. How important do you think school is to him? Very, otherwise he would just ditch the Saturday Schools 10. Why do YOU think his behaviour towards Andy & Claire was more vicious, as opposed to his more humourous and laid back behaviour to Allison and Brian? Because he sees Andy & Claire as the enemy, as the sterotype they play, and doesn't want to "see" them, as opposed to Allison, who he probably already knows (due to his comment about how 'she doesn't talk' and the fact he easily bounces off her 'gang up') and Brian because he sees the scared little boy under the smarts and the 'hope to impress' attitude. 1/12/2010 #25
raeofchaos Well im the type of person who has opinions on just about everythin, so heres wht i thnk: 1. A lot of stuf is 4 the attention, but may b he acts tough so tht he doesnt get hurt. So tht ppl dnt look down on him. 2. A lot of ppl thnk when he was imitating his dad, dad was tlkn 2 him. i thnk tht his dad was tlkn 4 his mom, tht 2 me xplains y his moms voice was so whiney, kinda sarcastic in a way. May b his whole 'wht about u' thing was how he stood up 4 his mom 3. he doesnt strike me as the picture type of guy, so im guessin those rnt really gfs. Who they r, idk. 4. Hes not really a criminal, just a rebel. But ppl only c wht they wnt 2 c 5. This 1s pretty simple - he's a boy, + boys r immature. He didnt make the 1st move, cuz hes afraid of rejection, like Claire said. If his parents hav h8ed him his whole life, y would she b any differant? 6. im not really sure on tht 1. But u can tell tht he does hav values of som kind. 7. Not really, no. I thnk he was just suprised. He was just thnkin about how crazy tht man was. 8. im guessing same as he did in detention. W/ his outbursts, + makin fun of them, but still friends w/ them. He doesnt care 2 much wht othrs thnk, as long as it fits in w/ his act 9. Important enough 2 sho up, but not important enough to actually pay attention or particip8, or do his work, or any of tht. May b he just has nothin bettr 2 do. 10. Allison + Brian r weirdos, like him. The outcasts. Claire + Andy r poular, + basically higher up than him. If tht makes any sense 2 u. I hope this helped!! :) 4/22/2010 #26
wolfdog127 1. I don't think he dose much for attention I think he just says whatever comes to mind you know just doesn't keep stuff to himself 2. I see his dad as a fat-ish drunk but strong enough to pack a punch and a mother who use to be very pretty but now is a slightly over weight druggy with graying hair. For some reason I can never imagine him with siblings, maybe an older brother in prison or something but none at home 3. Fake, its part of the image I bet only one or two of those where actually a gf 4. No he dose small stuff but he isn't going to go out and kill some one 5. The leg thing he was just messing with her he never expected her to actually like him 6. He values friendship what the others mentioned his friends he got very protective of them and what he did in the halls 7. Not scared of Vernon scared of what would happen if he punched him. If he did Vernon could press charges and get him expelled or put in prison, something like that 8. If any of them came up to him I think he'd say hi once they left he'd take the teasing from his friends but wouldn't let it get to him eventually they'd get bored and drop it. 9. He has more important things to focus on but he goes to get away from home. 10. It's a status thing their more popular ect. While bri and Allison are both on the same level as him. They also in his opinion have easier lives than him he might be a little jealous. 11.) Hell yes. 12.) He's been living like that his whole life and what if he dose and he looses that'll just make his dad meaner. 13.) I think he did it because he had the least to loose he already has detention for the next 2 months anyways. 14.) They are in the same school he saw her in the hall or he has a class with her or something. 11/10/2010 #27
EyesOfAserpent My opinion on the whole Bender and Claire is close minded but I can deal with it. True in the movie they fall in 'love' blah blah, but I think that come Monday Claire will truly snub him. Her parents reaction to Clair and Bender, might also contribute to her leaving him. She seems like the kind of girl that is easily bribed and influenced, I think it would take her a few years to truly change. Sorry but she does strike me as an attention w*** and material girl. She might be a virgin but she still likes to feel special and the only way she can do that is through her 'friends' and the whole student council. I'm stereotyping her and I realize it, but for some reason I don't like her. Claire just wants that bad boy kinda guy, but she'd easily give him up. I think Andy really is interested in Allison, but he can never truly understand her. In the end I think they will get bored with eachother. Now Bender and Allison, I can see them together, and I like the idea of them being a couple. I wish the movie turned out differently or they came out with a part 2 to the breakfast club, showing the two get together. But no such luck, so I must resort to fanfiction. 12/9/2010 #28
EyesOfAserpent My opinion on the whole Bender and Claire is close minded but I can deal with it. True in the movie they fall in 'love' blah blah, but I think that come Monday Claire will truly snub him. Her parents reaction to Clair and Bender, might also contribute to her leaving him. She seems like the kind of girl that is easily bribed and influenced, I think it would take her a few years to truly change. Sorry but she does strike me as an attention w*** and material girl. She might be a virgin but she still likes to feel special and the only way she can do that is through her 'friends' and the whole student council. I'm stereotyping her and I realize it, but for some reason I don't like her. Claire just wants that bad boy kinda guy, but she'd easily give him up. I think Andy really is interested in Allison, but he can never truly understand her. In the end I think they will get bored with eachother. Now Bender and Allison, I can see them together, and I like the idea of them being a couple. I wish the movie turned out differently or they came out with a part 2 to the breakfast club, showing the two get together. But no such luck, so I must resort to fanfiction. 12/9/2010 #29
Ufudyidkfjgtidixxigxxti Well, to answer ALL the questions... 1. How much of what he says or does do you think is a front? Do you think he says/does things for attention? I think a lot of what he says is a front, both to get attention he doesn't get at home (except to be beaten up) and because he's afraid to be caught looking vulnerable, exposed, and with all his secrets lying out on the table for all the world to see. Because of his dad's abuse, I think Bender felt he had to act the way he did to survive, and it takes a great deal of effort to get past that. 2. Briefly (but not too detailed) describe what you think his home life & family members might really be like. I think Bender's dad had dreams once, but things fell through, and he got stuck working a bad job that didn't pay. Frustrated with himself and the world, Bender Senior turned to the bottle, and started using his son as a punching bag to let his anger out. Bender's mom, I don't see her as having dreamt of much as a kid, probably being more of a "marry the right guy and have kids" kind of girl. She fears her husband, and doesn't want to cross him, even if he's hurting their son. The house itself is small and sits in the bad end of town. It's shabby and unkempt, and a lot of things are broken, due to Bender Senior's drunken rampages. 3. What is your opinion on the wallet full of girls? I think it's rather sad, actually. It shows that Bender has trust issues, shows that he can't really get very close to anyone. He thinks that if he lets any of the girls too close to him, they'll destroy him, because he knows that the people closest to you tend to inflict the worst physical and mental damage (AKA his dad). 4. Do you think the label 'criminal' actually suits him in a literal sense? In a literal, legal sense, yes. I mean, he had a bagful of pot. M*** is an illegal drug. Drug possession is a crime. 5. He had the guts to stick his head between Claire's legs, but not to make the first move on her...why? Sex is easy. It's actually having feelings for someone and acting upon them that's hard. 6. What kind of values or beliefs do YOU think he holds dear to him? I think Bender's values or beliefs can be summed up as such: Do what you have to do to stay alive. Rules are for expletives. If you don't have family to depend on, there's always your friends. 7. Do you think that he is scared of Vernon based on the closet scene? I think so. Up to that point, Bender just thought that he could push Vernon's buttons to the ends of the earth and Vernon wouldn't do anything to him other than slap on another meaningless detention. I mean, in this day and age, teachers can't beat kids. So when Vernon started seriously threatening him, Bender was kind of reminded of his dad, I think, and that really freaked him out. 8. How do you think Bender would act on Monday to the rest of the Breakfast Club (don't have to go into insane detail)? He'd go straight to Claire and try to sweet-talk her in front of her friends, and she'd tell him to go away. However, they'd meet up again later and agree to keep it quiet for a little while and then ease into it publicly. Bender would take a little convincing, but would eventually determine that that would be best. Bender wouldn't be all buddy-buddy with Andy, but he and Brian would talk here and there. He'd also have a smoke with Allison and have a pretty nice chat with her. 9. How important do you think school is to him? Not very. He knows that his parents went to school and never did anything great with their lives. Plus, he's had the idea drilled into his head that he is nothing, and will always be nothing, so a place where they try to make you into something would have no effect on him. 10. Why do YOU think his behaviour towards Andy & Claire was more vicious, as opposed to his more humourous and laid back behaviour to Allison and Brian? In the beginning, Bender saw them as the complete opposite of him. They had all this money and family that lavished gifts upon them, but there's also the basic high school dynamic, in which people like Andy and Claire are on top. Everyone else sees the athletes and prom queens as some higher beings, some unattainable golden place where everyone who isn't there wants to be. Bender, as a professional challenger-of-things, challenges that. In his mind, it's dumb to think of yourself as better because you wear the right clothes and do the right things and hang out with the right people. To him, it's all extremely asinine. 11.) If nothing happened between he and Claire...do you think he'd try to turn to Allison instead? I don't think so. I think he and Allison have more a friend dynamic. 12.) If his father's so abusive...why doesn't he just report his father to someone? That's a really good question. I think he has very little faith in the authorities. Bender thinks if he told someone, nothing would happen, and he'd just get the beating of his life. 13.) Do you think he sacrificed himself so everyone else could get back to the library because of Claire? Or someone else? What do you think motivated that selfless act? No, I don't think it was because of Claire, or of any one individual. I think by then, Bender thought of all of them as his friends, and has always been very loyal to his friends. Also, the excursion out of the library was his idea, and it wouldn't be right if the others got in trouble because of him. I mean, hey, what's another detention? 14.) Where do you think John saw Allison before? (not too much detail) In the halls, and in the cafeteria, I think the cliques all sort of have a hierarchy as far as where everyone sits. Bender and his buddies would be at a table at the far edge of everything, and Allison would sit near the end, by herself. 15. John and Claire. The beginning of Saturday/The end of Saturday (Where does it stem)? Why? The initial attraction? Why it might last? Why it might not? Well, the thing is, at the beginning of the day, Bender rather resents Claire and her way of life, and at the end of the day, they've kissed, love is in the air, and he's wearing her earring. There really is no singlular moment in which his opinion about her changes. It just sort of happened over the course of the day, as she started telling them more about herself and it became clear that she wasn't just some plastic puppet. It may last because if Bender really loves her, as in, Claire Standish is THE ONE, he wouldn't let her go, and Claire would have to just get that she wouldn't be getting rid of him. It might not last because Claire is very concerned about what her peers think of her, what her parents think of her, and often lets other people make her decisions for her. 16. How do you picture Bender's group of friends? I think Bender's friends come from similar backgrounds to his own, very troubled homes, families that are tough and don't have much money. They all act tougher than they really are, and get into tons of trouble. They're both boys and girls, of different races and different rough situations. They stick together like glue, because they're all they've got. 17.) If John is such a "criminal" then why doesn't he just skip dententions? His parents obviously don't give a rat's a about it, as he couldn't get a ride. Why do you think he would he bother every Saturday? I'm sure he does skip them now and then, when he has something else going on, but if it's just another lazy Saturday, detention gets him out of the house and away from that dad of his. It's something to do, someplace to be. An escape, if you will. 1. Religion (for him, not his family). Yes? No? Maybe? Why? I don't think so. I don't think that Bender believes in any sort of merciful god, since nothing in his life shows any sign of anyone having any mercy. I'm ignoring the part that says "not his family" and saying that Bender Senior was a religious man once, but life also showed him that he shouldn't believe in fairy tales. Mama Bender is probably a devout Catholic, though she doesn't get out to church very often since her husband would give her a hard time about it. Catholics don't believe in divorce, so that's why she doesn't just leave him. 2. If you were to envision in your mind one good childhood memory for John, what would it be? I'm thinking a nice grandma. One that got Band-Aids for his skinned knees and made chicken soup when he was sick and told him bedtime stories. But of course, she died... 3. Do you think he's ever been in love? Before the film, no. Little flings, one night stands, you know. But never love. I like to think that he found love with Claire or someone else someday, though. 4. If John had one major fear, what do you think that would be? Well, it'd have to be his dad. He wouldn't ever admit that he's scared of anything, but it's his dad. It's got to be. 5. Claire puts lipstick on with her b, Allison writes with her feet, Andy tapes bums, and Brian makes spaghetti. What the hell does John do? He ties little mini-nooses for putting on his locker and lights matches with his teeth. 6) What do you think John would have to say about the world today as compared to 1984? He'd think the commercialism and materialism that run rampant today aren't much different from the commercialism and materialism of 1984. Bender would also be the kind of guy to be upset that Back to the Future Part II didn't come true and nobody in the 21st century has a hoverboard. On the flip side, he'd have issues with technology and need help working modern computers and stuff. 7) If John had a 'sinful pleasure' or a secret liking for somthing that he was ashamed of, what would it be? Probably puppies or something equally cute and kind of soft and fluffy. I mean, Bender with a puppy? I wouldn't be able to decide which was cuter. 8) If John had children, how do you think he would treat them, and what kind of "fatherly advice" would he give them (for all intensive purposes, lets say he IS married with children)? Well, a fic I'm working on contains these events happening: 1) Bender and Claire go the distance, even though her parents disown her for it. 2) They open a record store in downtown Shermer and live in the apartment over the shop. 3) They have a daughter, Ella Claire Bender. 3) When Ella is six, Claire is killed when she's crossing the street and hit by a car. 4) Ella grows up as "Daddy's little girl", though by that I mean she and Bender are the best of friends, not that he spoils her, which is something he'd never do, nor have the means to do. Also, it should be noted that Bender never really tells Ella specifically "I love you." He's just not that kind of guy. 5) Picking up her dad's fight-the-man, go against the flow, not with it mentality, Ella grows up into a fine example of a hipster. She even gets into some trouble now and then, though she's always careful to not get caught. When she tells Bender about her exploits, he kind of smiles and says he's proud of her. To Ella, that's "I love you." 6) Bender discovers Ella's first bag of m**. Rather than punish her, he asks if they can share it. 7) In March of her senior year of high school, Ella wants to get caught once. Just once. So she doodles all over the bathroom stalls in permanent marker, signing each very large drawing, "BENDER." In short, he'll mostly be a good dad, perhaps a little lenient as far as rules, and of course very loving, though he won't actually say it. 9) What do you think John would be like had he grown up in the 1950's...when everyone was all "Leave it to Beaver"-ish? (just think it would be funny!) Easy. He'd be a greaser. The hair, the leather jacket, the devil-may-care attitude he already has. 8/27/2011 . Edited 8/27/2011 #30

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