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Reggie
Ben Hacket oversees the horses on Hetton’s grounds. A gruff and foul-mouthed member of the lower class, he earns the young John Andrew’s adoration for teaching him how to jump horses and entertaining him with vulgar stories. His genuineness and simple, traditionally masculine virtues provoke John Andrew’s admiration in a way that the boy’s parents do not. After Richard Last and his family take over Hetton, Ben remains employed on the grounds and helps Teddy with fox-farming.
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Ben Hacket Character Timeline in A Handful of Dust
The timeline below shows where the character Ben Hacket appears in A Handful of Dust. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: English Gothic—I
...young son John Andrew practices riding on his horse Thunderclap—a gift from his uncle Reggie—with Ben, the gruff stable tender. Ben entertains John Andrew with uncouth stories about livestock, including a...
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...nanny, but Tony feels he must reprimand him anyhow. He explains to John Andrew that Ben is of a lower class and his behavior must not be emulated. John Andrew, however,...
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Chapter 3: Hard Cheese on Tony
...of for an unfair price. When the stipulated limit is reached and no foxes found, Ben Hacket reluctantly insists that he must take the devastated John Andrew home, while Jock proceeds...
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At Hetton, Tony handles the inquest and gets the necessary affairs in order. Ben gets Tony’s approval to sell Thunderclap. Brenda returns, and she and Tony agree that there...
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