# Spade — John Brown’s Body character guide

> Spade in John Brown’s Body by Stephen Vincent Benét.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Spade, Mistah Spade, Mister Spade

**First appearance:** 0005-book-i

## Who they are

A Black presence moving through the margins of a slave ship's world, whose unheard prayers and songs shadow the captain's self-justifying theology.

## Relationships

### [Zachary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/john_brown_s_body_se/characters/zachary)

_friendship_

Spade and Zachary are close companions, working together and supporting each other through hardships.

### [Zachary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/john_brown_s_body_se/characters/zachary)

_friendship_

Spade and Zachary are close companions, working together and supporting each other through hardships.

## In the story

### [Prelude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/john_brown_s_body_se/chapters/prelude)

The mate, referred to as 'Mr. Mate,' is the young officer who inspects the hold and is deeply affected by the conditions.

### [Book IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/john_brown_s_body_se/chapters/book-iv)

An enslaved man who escapes from Zachary's plantation, dreaming of freedom in the North but haunted by fear of recapture.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/john_brown_s_body_se/characters/spade
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/john_brown_s_body_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/john_brown_s_body_se/characters