Character+Analysis+Essay+PC215

Character Essay

Brave heroes aren't always just someone who fights crime everyday wearing a cape or shining armor. Brave heroes are people who care about others, protect others.

Johnny Cade is a dynamic individual. Starting off scared and jumpy; this deep and thoughtful teenager showed that you don't have to wear a shining armor to be a gallant hero.

“Johnny-cake is scared and jumpy all the time. When Johnny and pony were at the movies with cherry and Marcia, Two- Bit snuck up behind them, Johnny's face turned white and He gasped for air. “Two- Bit knew better than to scare Johnny like that. I guess he'd forgotten.” (Pg. 27) Johnny had been beaten very badly by the socs. A soc wearing a ring, which left a scar on his face- Bob. Johnny cried that day, and Johnny didn't cry. His parent were abusive and alcoholics and didn't even know he was there. The gang made up for that as best they could. "Johnny- cake is the gongs pet, everyomes kid brother." (Pg. 12) It had to be pretty bad to make Johnny cry.

At the Church, after Johnny had killed the Soc, he and Ponyboy watched the sunset, reciting the poem by Robert Frost; “Nothing Gold can Stay”. Johnny is a deep and thoughtful boy. “It amazed me how Johnny could get more meaning out of some of the stuff than I could. He was just slow to get things, and he liked to explore them once he did.” (Pg. 76) Johnny found the meaning of the poem “Nothing Gold can Stay” and wrote a letter to Ponyboy so he would know, after Johnny was gone, “to stay gold”. Gallant and Brave Johnny Cade is a self-less, caring person. “’You really killed him, huh, Johnny?’ ‘I had to, they were downing you Pony....They might have killed you.’” (Pg. 56) Johnny did not run away even though he could have [from the Socs], he stayed add fought them off to save his friend. Pony and Johnny, knowing they could die, ran into the burning church to save the children. Johnny truly was gallant. “We pushed open the door to the back room and found 4 or 5 little kids, about 8 years or younger huddled in the corner. One was screaming his head off and Johnny yelled ‘Shut up! We’re going to get you out of here!’”(pg. 92)

While rescuing the children from the church, a piece of the building fell on Johnny and broke his back. Although Johnny was scared and afraid and jumpy, he would give up anything, even his life for his friends and others. “Listen, I don't mind dying now. It was worth saving those kids.” (Pg. 178) Johnny- cake proved that you don't have to be super man, flying around the city fighting crime, to save someone and be a true hero.