Comparison Of Heroes In The Outsiders And Johnny Cade

Whether one is a dirty, felonious greaser or an upscale, wealthy social, one can become a hero no matter the background that they originate from. However, in a mid-20th century Oklahoma city overrun by a unique class of Socials and Greasers, Two heroes emerge from similar backgrounds. Both heroes coming from a dirty, violent, and criminal background of Greasers. Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade put their lives at risk for the greater good of other people. They do not do these acts of kindness for fame or fortune, but rather out of their own heart to ensure the safety and security of the people around them. It is out of the ordinary for Greasers to commit to acts like these making them exotic heroes in S.E. Hinton’s fiction novel, The Outsiders.

These “vigilantes” in the book are no different from normal humans and not they are evidently not possessing super-human powers like something out of a comic book. The one aspect that makes them heroes is their kindness and affection towards other people, giving themselves adequate reasons to risk their own lives just to save others around
them, and putting other people before themselves displays their nobility and vigilance towards others.

Philip Zimbardo once stated that, “The key to heroism is a concern for other people in need-a concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.” Johnny Cade, one of our heroes ties into this description very accurately. Johnny Cade come from a torn and ragged family. His parents are always drunk, and they always argue on certain matters that just makes Johnny want to stay away from his own house. Johnny doesn’t consider his Birth parents his actual family instead, he considers his friends in the gang his family. Johnny is a type of character that would put his friends before himself, he demonstrated that he would kill someone to save his friends, “Johnny shoved me toward the window. "Get out!" I leaped out the window and heard timber crashing and the flames roaring right behind me. I staggered, almost falling, coughing and sobbing for breath. Then I heard Johnny scream” (80). This is showing that Johnny saved his

friends Ponyboy by pushing him out of the church before himself. Johnny realized that he had to sacrifice himself to save Pony from getting hurt at all so he did. The building crashed on top of him, putting Johnny in critical condition. Additionally, it shows how much Johnny would do for his friends and how much he cares for them. In the end, this exemplifies that Johnny would risk is life to save his friends, knowing there is no reward, he still commits the act of kindness. Even though Johnny cares for his friends very much, he also cares for everyone else. “It's worth it. It's worth saving those kids. Their lives are worth more than mine, they have more to live for. Some of their parents came by to thank me and I know it was worth it” (152). This shows Johnny’s affections and kindness towards other people. It puts into perspective how much Johnny cares for others around him. He states that the children had much more to live for, and he doesn’t do it for the reward. He puts others safety and security before himself, which is the definition of a hero. This shows how a Greaser, like Johnny could become a hero, which actively displays how heroes can come from many different backgrounds.

“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.” a statement by Felix Adler.

This definition of hero fits Ponyboy precisely, as he is different from everyone else. Ponyboy is a very unique individual and he is different from the rest of the Greasers in the gang. Ponyboy is very sensitive and has never approved of fighting, he only does it to gain approval from the gang. Ponyboy puts his own life at risk to save some kids lives in burning church, “I picked up a kid, and he promptly bit me, but I leaned out, the window and dropped him as gently as I could, being in a hurry like that. A crowd was there by that time. Dally was standing there, and when he saw me he screamed, ‘For Pete's sake, get outa there! That roofs gonna cave in any minute. Forget those blasted kids!’ “ (79). This shows that Ponyboy would go into a burning church, risking his own life to save the lives of a few little kids. He understands that Johnny and himself started the fire so he somewhat feels responsible for it. Ponyboy quickly runs into the church and saves the kids with the help of Johnny. They get all the kids out safely but, they are also injured in the process. This shows how he sets an example to those around him, He could “set up blazing torches” for people to follow him in his good deeds. It is likely that he even displayed a good example for the kids that he rescued from the church. Ponyboy knew that after

the long week of running away from home and saving the kids from the church, he couldn’t fight very well. Knowing even that he couldn’t, he still did just to stand by his friends in the rumble. “ I was silent most of the way home. I was thinking about the rumble. I had a sick feeling in my stomach and it wasn't from being ill. It was the same kind of helplessness I'd felt that night Darry yelled at me for going to sleep in the lot.” (108). Ponyboy is always there when his friends need him no matter how he is feeling. This gives another example of being a good example for others. Pony is again, committing good deeds not for reward but rather, out of his own heart. Even after knowing something bad will happen at the rumble, Ponyboy still attends as he wants to help his friends. Ponyboy knows that something is going to happen but, he doesn’t want to bring it up, ponyboy feels out of place, like he wasn’t meant to be there. He is a very kind and caring boy and only displays violence to impress his friends. He is like a blazing torch surrounded by darkness, constantly lighting the way travels. This shows that Ponyboy would go out of his way to help and support other people, even if it means to resort to violence and hatred.

Both Johnny and Ponyboy have the traits of heroes and would evidently risk their own lives to save the lives of others. Which brings us back to the main point, anyone can become a hero, no matter your personality or background. These two heroic characters have become heroes by putting others lives before theirs, which is a big thing to think about. One needs to have so much compassion and kindness in their heart to want to save someone you may not even know, potentially slimming the chance of your own survival. One doesn’t just do it for the reward either, One does it out of their own kind heart. This is the definition of the word hero.