Hero. A hero doesn’t always mean outstanding powers to be significant. A hero has many meanings to different people. Some people see superheroes in capes or webs coming out of their wrists.
But a hero that should be more recognized are the ones who do small things that stand out from the rest. Saving lives and cities from villains is one thing, but gaining respect and becoming who people admire or look up to should be the real heroes. In the book ‘The Outsiders’ S.E Hinton ‘The Outsiders’ explores the notion that not all heroes wear capes where ordinary people can. Throughout the book, I will discover that it doesn't take a cape or superpowers to be a hero.
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Johnny Cade was a hero. A young quiet introverted sixteen-year-old boy from the Eastside who watches sunsets. Johnny or ‘Johnny Cake’ as Dally would refer to him “had it rough all over.” He had a traumatizing past and grew hatred towards his parents, he only had his Greaser friends or as they called it, his real family. Johnny was a hero. When he saw that burning church, he didn’t hesitate to run into the fire along with Ponyboy. Johnny became tough trying to calm the children - very unlike Johnny. Johnny shoves Ponyboy out of the church. For Johnny, he was in critical damage, he was dying, getting more tired and tired. Johnny’s life was running out but the life he had, he didn’t once regret it. His condition affected everyone, Darry, Two-Bit, Steve, Sodapop, Dally, and Ponyboy.
“Johnny was something more than a buddy to all of us... A guy that’ll listen to you, listen and care about what you’re saying, is something rare... ” pg.178
He was important to everyone and without him, they didn’t have anything. He was best friends with Ponyboy and he is grateful to have a friend like Johnny. His last dying words were “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.” pg.178
Referencing back to the poem in ‘Gone with the Wind’. Gold symbolises idealism revealing to Pony that there is still good in life.
Telling Ponyboy to stay gold made him see there is no good in fighting. He wanted Pony to be happy with his life and not to become hard ensuring he is different from the other greasers.
After the accident with their parents, Darry became the man in the household and took responsibility for taking care of his two brothers. Like Darrel Shaynne Curtis Jr. he had things that made him a hero material. “He had given up a lot for Soda and me” pg.150. Darry saw himself in Pony which is why Darry pushed Ponyboy harder in his studies. Pony was a representative of all the things Darry missed out on. Darry had the intelligence to pursue college with a football scholarship. He has to work with roofing along with another job to provide for his family. Darry is the maturest, which sets him apart from the greasers and everyone who looks up to him. This shows he is selfless and will give up something to help someone else.
“Darry drawled that he wasn’t afraid of any burglars… He’d risk a robbery, he said, if it meant keeping one of the boys from blowing up and robbing a gas station or something” pg.89
He is just as caring to his family as to his friends. Providing a home for his friends to stay over avoiding the fact that he could be robbed.
Whenever Darry is in fights, it's because he wants to show off his strength (pg.114) or that he likes to for pure enjoyment like Sodapop. Two-Bit for conformity and Steve for his hatred towards Socs (pg.164) but Darry also does it for Pride. This is one of the features of a hero. It shows he cares about his friends and is courageous and a good father figure.
Another one is Sodapop. Sodapop has claimed to have many heroic qualities like his handsome good looks or is described as a ‘movie star’ that could play the part of a hero.
In the book, he shows that he cares and loves his family. Though he might have a better relationship with Pony, he loves his older brother equally. Sodapop knows exactly how to make anyone smile, even the hardest person, especially in hard situations.
Because of this, Sodapop is a loving and carefree person. It is clear that he is always there for his younger brother, and knows how to cope with difficult situations, especially as a greaser. He is social, understanding, and a fun person to hang out with. A great model for people to admire. He loves to fight and always is in one 'This kiddo can use his head' pg.162, shows he doesn't go in fights recklessly. Sodapop is a guardian over Ponyboy so Pony admires him.
A hero has different meanings to different people but a hero is when someone does small things that stand out from the rest. It could be Darry’s matureness separating himself from the gang, Sodapop’s handsome movie looks or Johnny being a great friend. Each person has a different reason and actions but affect people the same. Real heroes don’t always wear capes; they could just be wearing denim jacks and hair grease.
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