Analysis of Butterball

Businessman Bo Bennett says, “For every good reason there is to lie, there is a better reason to tell the truth.”  Butterball, from Playground, by 50 Cent, clearly does not follow this advice.  He lies to himself (as well as others) to make it seem like everything in his life is okay.  In reality, Butterball has a very troubled home life.  He hardly ever sees his Mom, who works all day at the hospital.  And on the rare occasions where he goes into Harlem to see his Dad, he is neglected.  To make things tougher for him, Butterball’s Mom recently came out as a lesbian, and moved Butterball and herself out of New York City and into the suburbs.  All of these things cause him to lie about how things really are to fit in.  Butterball lies about his problems to fit in and seem normal.

            As the reader, we find out about Butterball’s true self through his time with his therapist, Liz.  Although he doesn’t say how he feels, we can tell by his thoughts and memories that he has a very mixed up life.  For example, he tells Liz that he has a great Dad.  However, we learn that his Father is very neglectful, and he teaches him all of the wrong things.  When Butterball goes to visit him, he says he will buy him new shoes.  Then, at the shoe store, he takes the pair he wants without paying, leaving Butterball behind.  Later on in the visit, he cuts the entire line at the movies.  He says he’s teaching Butterball to be assertive, while all he’s doing is breaking the law and being a jerk.

            In addition to Butterball lying about his Dad, he lies to his friends, too.  In fact, he tries so hard to fit in, he resorts to violence to keep things “normal.”  One of his only friends, Maurice, finds out that his Mom is a lesbian.  This causes Butterball to think his status is endangered, and he gets scared.  To make sure Maurice doesn’t talk, he does the unimaginable: he beats him up with a sock full of batteries.  This is a horrible resolution to a nonexistent problem. Butterball not only lies to keep his status intact, but he turns to violence.

            The message the book is trying to convey is that Butterball hides behind his lies, hardly ever showing his real self.  I know everyone has lied sometime in their life.  I, for one, have lied to fit in, or to make it seem like I belong.  When I meet new people, I often find myself telling only half the truth.  I do this because I want to look like I know what I’m doing.  Everyone wants to make others think that they have been there, and done that.  Nobody wants to stand out or look weird in a new place.  That is why Butterball lies over and over again, never learning to just be himself.   His problems stem from this false front.  If Butterball got rid of this mask, he would have a better time and not resort to making up stories.  These themes really matter because all of the people who are struggling need to remember to be themselves and tell the truth to the people who care.  Maybe, what we really need to do is stop worrying about fitting in, and find our own identities.