What is a hero? Some people say that heroes are people who save people from monsters or supervillains, or people with super strength or speed. But heroes can be anyone. For example, Johnny from The Outsiders by SE Hinton or Ponyboy. There are antiheroes like Bob. Antiheroes are completely opposite to heroes, lacking traditional heroic qualities such as courage or moral goodness. Most heroes are brave, selfless, and compassionate. A person with all these qualities is Johnny Cade. Because Johnny is brave, selfless, and compassionate, he is the most heroic character in The Outsiders. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One heroic quality of Johnny's is courage. Johnny is brave because when Johnny was talking to Dally and Ponyboy in Dally's car, he said, “I'm sure. It's not fair that Ponyboy has to stay up in that church with Darry and Soda worrying about him all the time…” (Hinton 75). Johnny said he's going to turn himself in because it's not right for Ponyboy to stay in the church, and he'll make Darry and Sodapop worry about him for running off with Johnny. This is important because it shows that Johnny is brave enough to go to the police to turn himself in, and it also shows how thoughtful he is to care about what the feelings of Ponyboy's brothers, Darry and Soda, would be like. Johnny doesn't want anyone to worry. Additionally, another character who shows courage is Dallas Winston. The teacher of one of the children saved by Johnny describes Dally saving Johnny this way: “He burned his arm badly…trying to drag the other child out the window” (Hinton 81). When Johnny needed help in the burning church, Dally rushed in and saved Johnny, risking his life in the process. This is special for Dally because Dally usually gets into trouble, but now Dally has become a hero by saving Johnny. There are usually two sides to every conflict, and Greasers and Socs are no different. One Soc who shows courage is Cherry Valance. At the drive-in, Cherry explains why Cherry and Marcia didn't have a car: "Not my idea of a good time to sit in a drive-in and watch people get drunk" (Hinton 25). She means she wants to keep alcohol out of her life, even if it means challenging her boyfriend. She is brave enough to stand up to her lawless boyfriend, and brave enough to escape the dangers of alcohol. However, there are more qualities in a hero than just courage. Another heroic quality of Johnny is selflessness. When Ponyboy rushed into the church, he said, "I didn't realize Johnny was right behind me the whole way" (Hinton 78). Johnny wants to save the children and does so by following Ponyboy into the roaring, fiery church. Johnny sacrificed himself and risked his life saving all the children, putting the children's lives before his own. Additionally, Darrel Curtis shows selflessness when he decides to become a Greaser and not a Soc. When Two-Bit and Ponyboy were talking at the bus stop, Two-Bit says, "You know, the only thing that keeps Darry from being a Soc it's us." Darry is too smart to be a Greaser, he is strong, athletic and even cuts his hair. But Darry wants to take care of his brothers, so he stays on the Greasers to take care of his loved ones. He ignores the possibility of a better future to take care of his family. Also, Cherry Valance is altruistic because she spied on the Greasers on the Socs because she felt bad about Johnny in the hospital. “He said he felt the whole mess was his fault… and that he would keep up with what was happening with the Socs in the brawl….” Cherry felt guilty about how Johnny turned out?
tags