Essay On Heroism In The Outsiders

Imagine if you lived in fear of getting jumped by the “nice” people every day. In S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, this is a reality, an everyday lifestyle. Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers live in East Tulsa, and are part of a gang. They are constantly under attack from the west-siders, called Socs, who do it for the enjoyment of attacking someone. Throughout The Outsiders, S.E. Hinston causes readers to redefine their definition of heroism, by revealing the noble characteristics of individuals who would otherwise be classified as troublemakers or rebels; though they are different people, Johnny, Ponyboy, and Darry all exhibit heroic qualities. Johnny is a great example of heroism in The Outsiders. One reason he exemplifies this is because he saved Ponyboy’s life when the Socs attacked them by killing Bob, a Soc.

This makes Johnny a hero because he risked his own life to save multiple others. One more example of Johnny’s heroism is when he volunteers his own life so that other children can survive. Johnny knows these kids have a home and loving parents, and feels these kids will be able to do more than he will in the world. This makes him heroic because he makes a huge sacrifice for others, and probably the most heroic act in the entire book. For these reasons, Johnny is a hero in The Outsiders. In The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton emphasizes heroism, which is displayed by many characters, including Johnny, Ponyboy, and Darry. At the end of the book, all of the Greasers have been heroic due to their actions, including the ones listed above. In The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton includes a strong theme of heroism and friendship for characters that would otherwise be classified as dangerous and menaces to the