Johnny Cade

Author’s note: I am writing about a specific character in “The Outsiders”, and how he has developed throughout the story. His name is Johnny Cade.

Johnny Cade is one of the many Greasers. His family life isn’t that well, and as far as bad luck goes Johnny has definitely got it. Johnny is looked up to by many people as unlikely it may seem, people think of him as a brother to the whole gang. Some of the Greasers may not like some of the other Greasers, well Johnny likes them all. Johnny started off as a kid who couldn’t stand up for himself what so ever, although as the story went on he became more independent.

I think that Johnny is a dynamic character, because from the beginning of the story to the end of the story he changes his attitude, and confidence towards himself and the society. In the beginning of the story when he is walking around town with Ponyboy and Dally he goes more off of what people tell him or tell him to do. It seems as if Dally bosses him around telling him what to do a lot. Then when they were at the movie theater Johnny told Dally to back off of Cherry and Marcia, showing that he is already starting to develop.

Another part of the book where Johnny really starts to change his attitude is when he sees the church burning. He runs in to try and save the kids, doing so made him a hero but it also caused an accident to himself. When he was in the hospital he had realized that no matter what people say he is his own person and has to make the life changing decisions on his own, he can’t let people make them for him.

Overall I think that Johnny was a dynamic character, he starts off as a lost kid but as the story goes on he realizes that life is gold and you have to treat it like it is gold. He also becomes a wise young adult for redeeming his past image by saving these innocent children from the church.

Defying Stereotypes

           

           Author’s note: I am writing about one of the three themes from the book “The Outsiders”. I am giving examples and writing what I think of them towards the theme “Defying Stereotypes”.

            One of the biggest Stereotypes in “The Outsiders” towards a person is Dally. When he was only ten years old he was in a big gang held in New York, and went to jail very often. Now that he lives with new people in a new town, people think of him as the worst person in the world. If people were to get their tires slashed or a bunch of their stuff stolen they would blame most of it all on Dally, thinking he is the bad guy when really he probably didn’t do it.

I think that those people are really selfish, and inconsiderate. They don’t think about any other of the gang members going to the car and slashing the tires, they always think Dally does it. I feel bad for Dally sometimes, there is times where he gets blamed majorly for something he didn’t even do, although sometimes it might have been him.

The biggest society stereotype is against the Greasers. People look at them as dumb, poor, and dirty. In the book the socs make fun of them and beat them up, which is a lot worse than what the society does to them. If they were to be a Greaser they would understand that the Greasers have no jubilation. Once they saw the family life and how the Greasers live they wouldn’t think of them as bad as they do, they would feel sorry for them.

I feel bad for the Greasers and what they go through, but I feel like the people just don’t understand. Like when Randy was talking to Ponyboy, he started to feel sorry for Ponyboy especially because of what had happened to his family. If the socs were to live with the Greasers for awhile, I don’t really think all of them would get over the fact that they are Greasers, some of them would but not all of them.

Another big stereotype is towards Johnny. Johnny is a sixteen year old boy who has a bad family life and is at the wrong place at the wrong time a lot. Everyone see him as the one who ruined his family life with his parents. He’s best friends with one of the most hated Greasers in the society.

I think that there are a lot of stereotypes in the book “The Outsiders”. The main one in the whole book is the Greasers and the society. People think they are just overly disgusting. I do think that it is upsetting that they think that, but I also totally understand that they just don’t know what they go through.

Letter to Ponyboy

Author's note: I am writing a letter to Ponyboy on his life, his friends, what I think of them and him, and what I think will happen in the future.

Dear Ponyboy,

When you’re alone and not with your friends and gang you seem like a really nice person, but you are stuck in a sticky situation. You have what it takes to be a soc; you also have what it takes to stay with the greasers. Are you willing to forget the life you had and currently have with the greasers to be a rich and smart kid?

Your brother Darry was once a soc, then in a tragic accident your parents died leaving you and your brothers with nothing. So courageous enough, Darry quit school and started two jobs to keep you and Soda pop living. Doing so made all of you apart of the local gang the “Greasers”.  On the journey you met your best friend Johnny. He has similar problems with his family. He does live with them, although they do not appreciate him.

You have also met some other important people on the way, especially Dally. Although you might not feel it, you and Dally have a special relationship, you are both much alike. Dally loves Johnny as if they were brothers. Dally teaches you and Johnny the ways of his master skills with gangs. Through your life the things he teaches you definitely come in handy.

I think later on that Johnny will end up dying, because he tried to be a hero and I love that he did it. I feel that Dally will feel very insecure and get killed doing something stupid. As for you I think that you will end up a very scared person but you will eventually get over it. 

Sincerely,

Xavier Straub