In the poem John Henry the main character John Henry is a hard-working man.

For example,
John is determined to beat the steam drill. John says Before Id let that steam drill beat me
down, Id hammer my fool self to death (296). John would rather die than let the steam drill out
do him. John also is hard-working by striking bottom before the steam drill. The poet says The
steam drill started at half-past 6, John Henry started at the same time. John Henry struck
bottom at half-past 8, and the steam drill didnt bottom till 9 (297). John Henry struck bottom
before the steam drill. John also is hard-working by continuing to work on the big Bend Tunnel.
The poet says. John Henry hammered on the mountain, he hammered till half past 3. He said
This big Bend Tunnel on the C.&O. road is going to be the death of me (297). Even though the
construction on the big Bend Tunnel was hard he did it anyways. Therefore, John proves hes
hard-working in the story.