Is Johnny Cade a Hero?
With outstanding level of integrity, as well as rectitude despite a distressing home life, it would be justifiable to identify Johnny Cade in The Outsiders, as a hero. Although some may disagree with this statement by stating that Johnny could never be a hero simply because he killed Bob. However, we must remember the salient fact that when Ponyboy was being drowned in the park fountain by David, Johnny stabbed Bob on behalf of Ponyboy’s protection, despite the generally terrifying, and painful nature of an action that heinous. In addition, when the children were trapped in the burning church on Jay Mountain, Johnny ran to the rescue without hesitation, even if it meant putting his own life at risk for the benefit of others. Finally, and most importantly, when Johnny was dying in hospital, and did not have much time left before death, he did not try to feel sorry for himself, he instead said goodbye …show more content…
Instead of thinking only of himself at death, and reflecting on his own life, he tried to say goodbye to Pony, and better his life instead of commiserating his own. The decision of not choosing to submit to the contemplation of life at the time of death is not painless; it takes true integrity to simply accept death and help someone else maintain their innocence by telling them to not to succumb to the difficulties of life and not make the same mistakes that they did. Consequently, I will argue that Johnny was not only a hero, he was an irreplaceable