Analyzing Text: Literature
Directions Read the following drama excerpt. Then answer the questions that follow.
The play John Henry is a folk tale about a mythical man named John Henry who works as a steel driver on a railroad tunnel in 1880s West Virginia. In Scene 1, John Henry is proud that he can hammer more steel spikes each day than anyone else working on the train track.
John Henry
by Barbara Winther
Characters:
BALLAD SINGER
POLLY ANNE
LITTLE BILL
JOHN HENRY
SAM, the salesman
CAPTAIN TOMMY
Two MEN
Two WOMEN
PEOPLE, extras
…
BEFORE RISE: CAPTAIN TOMMY, holding paper, with pencil behind ear, enters in front of curtain and stands center, reading silently as lights go up. SAM enters left.
SAM: Are you Captain Tommy?
SAM: Permit me to introduce myself. I am Sam, superior salesman and owner of Johnson's Steam Drill Company.
CAPTAIN: I'm not buying any newfangled gadgets. (Starts to write on paper)
SAM: Wait a bit, Captain. Suppose I tell you I've invented a machine that can drive more holes than twenty men, without resting.
CAPTAIN (Not looking up): I'd say you were crazier than a bedbug and ought to soak your head in a bucket of water.
SAM (Crossing arms): I have this machine here, sir, and I am willing to show you how fantastic it is.
CAPTAIN (Slowly looking up): Well; I suppose I could take a look at your invention. (Narrowing eyes) How do I know it can do what you claim?
SAM: By testing it. (Corning closer) Who is your strongest working man?
CAPTAIN: John Henry, without a doubt. (Tucks pencil behind ear)
CAPTAIN: The finest steel-driving man in the country.
SAM: Captain, I propose a race between my steam drill and your worker, John Henry.
CAPTAIN: How long a race?
CAPTAIN: What? You can't expect a man to drive steel for nine hours.
SAM: Of course not. I expect to show you that my machine will still be working long after John Henry quits.
CAPTAIN: Hm-m-m. I don't know. I'll have to ask John. (Musing) Of course, he's never turned his back on a challenge.
SAM (Extending hand): Agreed, then?
CAPTAIN: If John wants to do it, it's agreeable with me. (Clasping SAM'S hand) If your steam drill wins, then I'll buy it. If your steam drill loses—
CAPTAIN: Then you have to pay me five hundred dollars.
SAM (Smiling): Captain, you drive a hard bargain—but I can't possibly lose, so I accept your terms. (They shake hands.) My steam drill will be ready to go in the morning. (Exits left. CAPTAIN starts to write.)
CAPTAIN: City slickers think their machines have all the answers. (Looking after SAM) Who knows? Maybe they do. (Blackout. CAPTAIN exits. Spotlight comes up on SINGER, who enters with guitar and plays and sings as before. PEOPLE sing from offstage.)
SINGER: Well, the Captain said to John Henry,
Shall we bring that steam drill around?
Will you race nine hours out on the job,
Driving steel on into the ground?
SINGER: Driving steel on into the ground?
PEOPLE: Then John Henry said to his captain,
SINGER: Well, a man ain't nothing but a man,
But before I let that steam drill beat me down,
PEOPLE: I'll die with a hammer in my hand.
PEOPLE: I'll die with a hammer in my hand. (Spotlight goes out. SINGER exits. Curtain opens. Lights come up.)
TIME: Late morning, the next day.
SETTING: Same as Scene 1.
AT RISE: Stage is empty. JOHN, carrying hammer, BILL and POLLY enter left.
JOHN: Little Bill, will you hold the drills for me in the race?
BILL: I've been doing that for you ever since you came here, John. I won't desert you now.
POLLY: How can I help, John?
JOHN: By bringing me water. I imagine I'll be feeling pretty thirsty as I work.
POLLY: All right. (Touching JOHN's shoulder) Are you certain you want to enter this race? (JOHN nods.) Everyone knows you're the greatest steel-driving man that ever lived. You don't have to prove it. But, John, if a machine breaks down, it can be repaired so it can go on working forever. (Gently) But you can't go on working forever.
JOHN: No, but I can show how a man can strive for what he cares about. Working on this railroad has been the happiest time of my life. I'm not going to sit back and let a machine take that work away from me, or from others who feel the same way I do about the railroad.
BILL (To POLLY): We have to let him do it, Polly Anne. (Exits right)
POLLY: I know, Little Bill. I'm just frightened for him. Worried and frightened. (Exits right, followed by BILL. CAPTAIN and PEOPLE enter left, humming to tune of "John Henry," as they take places to watch the race. Some point and peer off right, nodding and gesturing to each other. Others may lay blanket on ground, for a picnic. Two WOMEN with open parasols and fancy dresses are escorted by Two MEN to tree stumps, where they sit. By the time the song is hummed through once, all have found places on stage.)
CAPTAIN (Shouting off): On your mark, get set (Pause), go. (Blast of train whistle and then sound of steel hitting steel and chugging of steam engine continue until race is over. Crowd cheers.)
1ST MAN: Look at John Henry go with that hammer!
2ND MAN: But the steam drill's going just as fast.
1ST WOMAN: And this is a nine-hour race.
2ND WOMAN: John will wear himself out.
1ST WOMAN: I don't see how he can keep up this pace.
1ST MAN: You can bet he'll use every ounce of strength he's got.
2ND MAN: He can't beat a machine.
1ST MAN: Maybe not, but he's got the courage to try.
PEOPLE (Cheering; ad lib): Come on, John Henry. You can do it! (Etc.)
2ND WOMAN: We're rooting for you.
PEOPLE (Chanting): John Henry, John Henry, John Henry… (Chanting fades as lights dim. Spotlight comes up on SINGER as he re-enters, playing and singing as before.)
SINGER: Sunshine was hot and burning,
Wasn't a breeze at all,
Sweat ran down like water down a hill,
That day John Henry let his hammer fall,
Lord! Lord!
That day John Henry let his hammer fall.
(Spotlight goes out. SINGER exits. POLLY enters and stands at right with CAPTAIN, so that they can speak to JOHN, who is just offstage right. PEOPLE begin chanting softly again, as lights go up gradually.)
PEOPLE (Chanting): John Henry, John Henry. (Continuing softly during the following conversation)
CAPTAIN: John, you've been hammering over eight hours now. You have to stop. The rock's getting harder and harder.
POLLY: Please, John, stop now. You're suffering too much.
JOHN (Breathlessly, from offstage): I'm tired. But I won't give up.
PEOPLE (Chanting louder). John Henry, John Henry…
CAPTAIN (Worriedly): John, you don't look well. It's the ninth hour.
POLLY: You've done more than any man could do. Quit now before it's too late.
JOHN (Groaning): No! I'll never quit!
PEOPLE (Chanting loudly): John Henry, John Henry… (Sound of train whistle is heard. Sounds of steel striking steel and chugging of steam engine stop, as does the chanting.)
CAPTAIN: The race is over. The steam drill drove nine feet into the mountain. John Henry drove (Pauses) fifteen feet. John Henry wins. (PEOPLE cheer as JOHN, hammer in hand, staggers in, followed by BILL. CAPTAIN helps them over to tree stumps; POLLY follows, looking worried. Seeing JOHN'S condition, PEOPLE quiet down, whispering nervously among themselves. JOHN sinks down on one stump. BILL sits on other, wearily holding head in hands. CAPTAIN pats JOHN on back.) John, you've won the biggest race of your life. We're all mighty proud of you.
SAM: I never thought a man could do it. He beat my steam drill fair and square. (Counting out money from pocket) Captain, here is the five hundred dollars you won from me.
CAPTAIN (Taking it): This is your money, John. (Holds it out to him) You're the one who earned it. (JOHN smiles faintly and shakes his head, then looks at exhausted BILL, reaching out to pat his back but not able to reach it. JOHN stands, shakily, reaches out for POLLY, takes a step and collapses. Men gasp, ladies scream, and children run crying to parents. POLLY kneels beside him.)
POLLY (Tearfully): John, why wouldn't you listen to us? (Touching hammer) You just kept on hammering (Voice faltering) and hammering and— (BILL rises and helps her to her feet.)
BILL (Comforting her): Polly Anne, a man has to do what he feels is right. (She nods and wipes away tears.)
POLLY: Yes, I know. He was doing that.
CAPTAIN: John Henry, as long as there are people like you, there will never be a machine to take the place of a human spirit. (Looks at money and then at others, helplessly) I can't keep this money. Polly, you take it. (She shakes her head and looks away.) Well, Sam, I guess you'll just have to take it back. (Hands it to him) None of us would feel right having it. (SAM looks at money, then at JOHN, and shakes head. He exits with bowed head. Everyone freezes as lights dim. Spotlight goes up on SINGER, who enters, playing and singing as before.
PEOPLE, including POLLY, BILL and CAPTAIN, join in song.)
SINGER: Go and tell the story of John Henry,
Born with a hammer that could sing.
PEOPLE: And on hot summer days in the south they say
You can hear his hammer ring.
Lord! Lord!
You can hear his hammer ring.
(Loud sound of steel striking steel is heard, then fades out as lights go out and curtain closes.)