Character Analysis
He's a Uniter, Not a Divider
Mr. Benedict is, of course, the namesake of the children's team, and he's the whole reason they've come together. Though he won't say it himself, he's a genius, and that has given him a taste of isolation over the years. As Number Two explains, even if Mr. Benedict told people how his Receiver worked, "no one would believe him because no one would understand him. That's the downside to being a genius" (5.178).
And Mr. B felt isolation in his childhood because, as he says, "I grew up an orphan, and I know what it is to feel miserable and alone" (9.23)—but he isn't lonely anymore. As he tells Reynie, when he was a child he used to wish he had a family, but "once you acquire a family, you no longer need to wish for one" (20.27). And Mr. Benedict has acquired his family.
Rhonda and Number Two, we eventually learn, are his adopted daughters; and at the end of the story, we find out he's planning to adopt Constance too. As he explains to Reynie, though "family is often born of blood, […] it doesn't depend on blood. […] Family members can be your best friends. And best friends can be your best friends" (20.29).
And He's A Good Role Model…
Mr. Benedict is full of wisdom like this, and it is because of his age and experience—as well as his kindness, his friendly smile, and his insistence on treating children with the respect they deserve—that he becomes a mentor for the children, especially Reynie.
But in addition to offering the children guidance, Mr. Benedict offers them a place in the world where they are all accepted and appreciated for their unique gifts. And his own ability to establish a stable home and family despite having grown up without either suggests that the young heroes of the Mysterious Benedict Society will one day be able to do the same. So Mr. Benedict is a hopeful symbol of their futures as well—an example of what they can all one day achieve.
… Unlike Certain Other Old Men in Green Plaid Suits
When compared to his identical twin brother, Ledroptha Curtain, Mr. Benedict plays another important role in the novel by demonstrating that the choices a person makes over the course of his life play a big part in who he becomes.
Think about it: Mr. B and Mr. C must have identical DNA, right? And we know that they're similar in many ways. Aside from their physical appearance, they're both geniuses, they both suffer from narcolepsy, and they've both taken great interest in scientific research over the years, specifically with regard to the study of the brain. But they've made completely different life choices.
While Mr. Curtain has sought to maintain complete control over himself and everyone—and everything—around him, Mr. Benedict has allowed himself to become vulnerable. Mr. Curtain has chosen to keep himself insulated from people and emotions, believing that due to his superior intelligence, he can only achieve his goals by working alone. Mr. Benedict, on the other hand, has reached out to others and invited them into his life. He's made a point to collaborate whenever possible, and he certainly believes in the power and importance of teamwork.
In the end Mr. Benedict is the biggest team player of all, having believed from the beginning that every last member of the MBS was of equal importance. And of course the choices he's made—to include others in his life, to value truth, to be kind and respectful—also show how much he values teamwork, family, and friends. Which is why, despite having the same inauspicious beginning his brother had, he's now living a very different life.