Outsiders Character
Analysis
by Sarah Y. Park
WHO?
Johnny Cade
Vulnerable
• Johnny is from a very abusive home. Due to
that, he is very vulnerable to emotional
scars. He knows that he’s alone. He’s able
to survive.
• “I walk in that house, and nobody says
anything. I walk out, and nobody says
anything. I stay all night, and nobody
notices. At least you got Soda. I ain’t got
nobody.”
• pg 51, says Johnny.
Vulnerable
• This quote describes Johnny being
vulnerable because since he knows that he’s
alone and there’s no one next to me
except for the gang, he tries to stay strong.
He tries not to get hurt, in the inside.
Fearful
• Johnny has a lot of fears because of bad
memories; parents, socs.
• “He had never been a coward. ...~But after
the night of the beating, Johnny was jumpier
than ever. I didn’t think he’d ever get over
it. Johnny never walked by himself after
that. ..~ now carried in his back pocket a
six-inch switchblade. ”
• pg 34, says Pony.
Fearful
• This shows that he is very fearful of the
socs. It shows that he tries to protect
himself by using weapons.
Generous
• Johnny had realized something very
important inside him. He knew he had
generosity, just a little late. He said it in the
letter.
• “Listen, I don’t mind dying now. It’s worth
it. It’s worth saving those kids. Their lives
are worth more than mine, they have more
to live for. ”
• pg 178, says Johnny inside the letter.
Generous
• He realized that it was worth losing his life,
where not even his family supports him,
when the family will be so sad if their son/
daughter would die in the fire. He was
thinking of others first.
Quiet/Shy
• Johnny is very quiet, but everyone notices
his existence.
• “He was nervous, though. Johnny was
always nervous around strangers.”
• pg.24, says Pony.
Quiet/Shy
• After the accident with the Socs. Johnny
was shy and nervous around strangers. It
was hard for him to talk to strangers easily.
Brave
• As I said before, Johnny has many fears, but
he is brave at the right moment. Where
courage is needed.
• pg 92, says Pony.
• This quote describes that he is brave at
times when courage is most needed
because Johnny wasn’t scared to go help
and rescue the little children.
continued
• “Johnny wasn’t behaving at all like his old
self. ….~ I caught one quick look at his
face; it was red-marked from falling embers
and sweat-streaked, but he grinned at me.
He wasn’t scared either. That was the only
time I can think of when I saw him without
that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes.
He looked like he was having the time of
his life”