The Theme Of Johnny In The Outsiders

A Dreadful Lifetime
Literature allows the reader to experience a variety of conflicts and emotions of the characters in the plot of a novel. In The Outsiders, Johnny faces various conflicts all that lead him to the realization that innocence is a virtue. Specifically, the problems that Johnny struggles with are abusive parents, the fear of the socs jumping him, and trying to get the children out of the church alive. To begin with, Johnny’s parents are abusive, “Johnny was high-strung anyway, a nervous wreck from getting belted every time he turned around and from hearing his parents fight all the time… it was killing Johnny.” (30). When Ponyboy describes how much growing up with abusive parents is affecting Johnny saying that he is skittish around people

Johnny was scared of his own shadow after that.” (5). From then on, Johnny had a fearful awareness about every little thing, he started carrying a blade with him wherever he went and was afraid of new people. Finally, Johnny had to find a way to save all of the children from the burning church. Once Johnny realizes that there are children that are stuck inside a burning church, he runs inside to save them. “... Johnny wasn’t behaving at all like his old self. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the door was blocked by flames, then pushed open the window and tossed out the nearest kid.” (79). It doesnt even cross Johnny’s mind that he might cause harm to himself, only that he must get the children to safety. All in all, it was a long and winding road to learn that innocence was a virtue. This includes having to face problems such as child abuse, fear of the socs, and trying to get the children out of the burning church. In Johnny’s letter to Pony, he says, “you’re gold when you are green..everything is new…” (52). This means that in the beginning of your life, you are innocent which Johnny believes is important. Johnny doesnt want Pony to go cold to the world Johnny wants to stay loving,