“He wasn’t scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes” (Hinton 92). Sometimes people show great change from just a single moment in their lives. Occasionally, even characters in literature have an experience similar to this. More specifically, in S.E. Hinton’s riveting novel The Outsiders, Johnny Cade expresses that he is strong, gallant, and confident when he first appears to be beaten down, timid, and weak. What brings about this change is whenever someone is in danger. Throughout most of the beginning of the book, Johnny shows that he is shy, beaten down, and has a lot of problems at home and abroad. Because of all of this, he gets a name for himself as being the …show more content…
Although Johnny is older, he is smaller than fourteen year old Pony. Near the end of book, Johnny finally expresses how he feels about everything. He is in the hospital and realizes that he doesn’t want to die, he wants to live. “‘I’m scared stiff. I used to talk about killing myself… I don’t want to die now. It ain’t long enough’” (Hinton 121). Furthermore proving that Johnny was weak and shy earlier in the book. Johnny seems to not like to talk about his hardships throughout the book, for maybe he is scared of them. He just wants to avoid them, which is probably why he wanted to kill himself. In the hospital, he is finally realizing that there is so much in the world to explore and wants to live so he can explore it. “There’s still lots good in the world” (Hinton 179). Johnny knows that he can be whatever he wants to be, but doesn’t have enough time to do so.
By the end of the novel, Johnny shows that he can be brave, gallant, and a strong leader. One event that Johnny showed this change is when him and Ponyboy are trying to save the kids from the burning church. Johnny becomes brave and fearless because he knows if he didn’t, those kids would probably die. “‘Shut up! We’re goin’ to get you out’” (Hinton 92). Johnny expresses that he can make himself big when he absolutely needs to, especially when he or someone else is in danger. With all of his troubles with the Socs and his parents he is never