# Ben Greene — Can Such Things Be? character guide

> Ben Greene in Can Such Things Be? by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Ben, Private Bennett Story Greene, Ben Greene, Private Greene, Greene, Bennett Greene, Bennett Story Greene

**First appearance:** 0056-a-baffled-ambuscade

## Who they are

A soldier who experiences a strange and fatal encounter.

## Relationships

### [Lawrence Barting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/lawrence_barting)

_psychological_

Ben Greene is haunted by the ghost of Lawrence Barting, who returns to exact a terrible revenge.

### [Brainerd Byring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/brainerd_byring)

_friendship_

Ben Greene and Brainerd Byring are old friends who share a tragic secret involving a ghostly apparition.

### [Hiram Beeson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/hiram_beeson)

_rivalry_

Ben Greene and Hiram Beeson are enemies, with Beeson accusing Greene of a terrible crime from beyond the grave.

### [Hiram Beeson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/hiram_beeson)

_rivalry_

Ben Greene and Hiram Beeson are enemies, with Beeson accusing Greene of a terrible crime from beyond the grave.

### [Brainerd Byring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/brainerd_byring)

_friendship_

Ben Greene and Brainerd Byring are old friends who share a tragic secret involving a ghostly apparition.

### [Lawrence Barting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/lawrence_barting)

_psychological_

Ben Greene is haunted by the ghost of Lawrence Barting, who returns to exact a terrible revenge.

## In the story

### [Soldier-Folk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters/soldier-folk)

A soldier whose story contributes to the chapter's themes of camaraderie and loss.

### [Two Military Executions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters/two-military-executions)

Private executed for striking his officer; his ghostly voice answers roll call after death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/ben_greene
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters