There are many attributes that could define heroism. Attributes such as protecting those closest to them, selfless acts of courage and kindness, and even risking their own life for another’s. In S. E. Hinton’s book “The Outsiders,” there are three characters that portray acts of gallantry: Ponyboy Curtis, Darry Curtis, and Johnny Cade. They are all different kinds of heroes, yet they all were able to step-up when they were needed.
To begin, Ponyboy is a hero because he always looked out for his friends, no matter what. He wasn’t afraid to do what needed to be done. When Johnny needed protecting, Ponyboy didn’t hesitate to defend him like he was his own brother. Ponyboy even befriended a Soc, Cherry Valence, unheard of between their rivalry. He rushed to aid the children in the burning church, “I wasn’t about to go through that flaming door, so I slammed a big rock through a window and pulled myself in,” (Ch. 6, page 99) without hesitation. He participated in the rumble with the other greasers to defend…show more content… “Darry’s hard and firm and rarely grins at all. But then, Darry’s gone through a lot in his twenty years, grown up too fast.” (Ch. 1, page 10) He gave up a promising future in order to keep what was left of his family together. “I suddenly realized Darry was only twenty, that he wasn’t so much older that he couldn’t feel scared or hurt and as lost as the rest of us. I saw that I had expected Darry to do all the understanding without even trying to understand him. And he had given up a lot for Soda and me.” That is a very noble and selfless thing for someone to do considering Darry could have easily made something of himself. Darry is also courageous and “was the unofficial leader, since he kept his head best,” (Ch. 6, page 97) concluding to be attributes of a hero. He was the first to step out at the rumble and all the greasers looked to him for
