Johnny Cade quotes and page numbers give a deeper understanding of the character.
The Outsiders Quotes With Page Numbers
Johnny Cade Description
Johnny Cade, a pivotal character from S.E. Hinton’s novel, “The Outsiders,” is a 16-year-old greaser with big black eyes and tanned skin.
He represents a tragic figure who struggles with a harsh home life and is ruthlessly victimized by the rival gang, the Socs. Even at such a young age, Johnny is exposed to constant physical abuse and neglect, particularly from his father, as expressed in Chapter 2, Page 32.
Because of his upbringing, Johnny is characterized as quiet and soft-spoken, often scared of his own shadow. However, throughout the story, Johnny showcases his inner strength and resilience when he stands up against the intimidation and cruelty he regularly faces.
For instance, Johnny’s courage shines particularly brightly when he instructs Dally Winston to leave a girl alone (Chapter 2, Page 24), even though Dally is known for his volatile temper.
His bravery is a surprise even to his own gang members, showing that deep within him, there’s a strong spirit hidden behind the façade of a frightened young boy.
Johnny wishes to find an environment without the division of Greasers and Socs but with only plain, ordinary people (Chapter 3, Page 48). This reveals his longing for unity, equality, and peaceful coexistence, perhaps as a reflection of his inner desire for a more harmonious, loving personal environment.
Despite his harrowing emotional and physical trials, Johnny continues to be a kind and supportive friend, especially to Ponyboy Curtis.
Throughout the novel, Johnny cares for his friends and is determined to protect them. This is demonstrated when he reassures and stands up for Ponyboy in multiple incidents (Chapter 3, Page 28 and Chapter 3, Page 43).
His empathy and understanding of people’s perspectives are seen when he acknowledges how their association with Cherry could tarnish her reputation because they’re greasers (Chapter 3, Page 47).
With the memory of being nearly killed by a group of Socs one night, Johnny kills Bob in self-defense to save Ponyboy.
While on the run with Ponyboy, Johnny accidentally causes a fire at an abandoned church where they are hiding out.
It’s on fire when they return to the church, and children are trapped inside. Johnny and Ponyboy rescue the children, but Johnny suffers life-threatening injuries.
In the hospital, he mentions that rumbles are pointless. He writes a letter to Ponyboy: “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold . . .” The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died.” (Chapter 9, Page 148) Johnny means that Ponyboy should hold on to his innocence.
Johnny lives like a hoodlum but dies like a hero.
Johnny’s story does not shy away from the harsh realities of life and presents a raw and heartbreaking portrayal of a youth growing up amidst violence and neglect. Nevertheless, his character leaves a lasting impact and symbolizes resilience against life’s adversities.
Johnny Cade’s Appearance In The Outsiders
Johnny Cade is smaller than the rest of the greasers, with a slight build and big black eyes in a dark-tanned face. His hair is jet-black, heavily greased, and combed to the side, but it is so long that it falls in shaggy bangs across his forehead.
He wears a dark t-shirt with a sky-blue denim jacket and jeans and always has a nervous, suspicious look in his eyes. The scar on his left cheek from when he was jumped and beaten severely by a group of Socs serves as a reminder of his struggles.
Johnny looks like a lost puppy, and Ponyboy often thinks of him as someone who has been kicked too many times.
“We were used to seeing Johnny banged up— his father clobbered him around a lot, and although it made us madder than heck, we couldn’t do anything about it. But those beatings had been nothing like this. Johnny’s face was cut up and bruised and swollen, and there was a wide gash from his temple to his cheekbone. He would carry that scar all his life. His white T-shirt was splattered with blood. I just stood there, trembling with sudden cold. I thought he might be dead; surely nobody could be beaten like that and live.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Ponyboy about Johnny Cade), Chapter 2, Page 32
Johnny Cade Quotes And Page Numbers
“I had never been jumped, but I had seen Johnny after four Socs got hold of him, and it wasn’t pretty. Johnny was scared of his own shadow after that. Johnny was sixteen then.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny Cade (Character: Ponyboy Curtis as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 4
“If it had been me, or Two-Bit, or Soda or Steve, or anyone but Johnny, Dally would have flattened him without a moment’s hesitation.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny Cade and Dally Winston (Character: Ponyboy Curtis as the narrator), Chapter 1, Page 12
“Leave her alone, Dally.”
“Huh?” Dally was taken off guard. He stared at Johnny in disbelief. Johnny couldn’t say
“Boo” to a goose.
Johnny gulped and got a little pale, but he said, “You heard me. Leave her alone.”
Dallas scowled for a second. If it had been me, or Two-Bit, or Soda or Steve, or anyone but Johnny, Dally would have flattened him without a moment’s hesitation.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Characters: Johnny Cade, Dally Winston, and Ponyboy Curtis), Chapter 2, Page 24
“How come y’all ain’t scared of us like you were Dally?”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 2, Page 26
“Two-Bit knew better than to scare Johnny like that. I guess he’d forgotten. He’s kind of scatterbrained. Johnny opened his eyes and said weakly, “Hey, Two-Bit.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny Cade (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator and Johnny Cade), Chapter 2, Page 27
“Aw, cut it out!” Johnny broke in. “Dally was bothering them and when he left they wanted us to sit with them to protect them. Against wisecracking greasers like you, probably.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders,(Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 2, Page 28
“Two-Bit grinned, because Johnny didn’t usually get sassy like that. We thought we were doing good if we could get him to talk at all.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny Cade (Character: Two-Bit Mathews), Chapter 2, Page 28
“You know better than to talk to Johnny like that.” He put his hand on Johnny’s shoulder. “He didn’t mean it, Johnny.”
“I’m sorry,” I said miserably. Johnny was my buddy. “I was just mad.”
“It’s the truth,” Johnny said with a bleak grin. “I don’t care.”
“Shut up talkin’ like that,” Two-Bit said fiercely, messing up Johnny’s hair. “We couldn’t get along without you, so you can just shut up!”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Characters: Two-Bit, Ponyboy, and Johnny Cade), Chapter 3, Page 43
“It was because we’re greasers,” Johnny said, and I knew he was talking about Cherry. “We could have hurt her reputation.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 3, Page 47
“Well I won’t. But I gotta do something. It seems like there’s gotta be someplace without greasers or Socs, with just people. Plain, ordinary people.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 3, Page 48
“Easy, Ponyboy,” he said softly, “we’ll be okay.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 3, Page 51
“I think I like it better when the old man’s hittin’ me.” Johnny sighed. “At least then I know he knows who I am.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 3, Page 51
“I killed him,” he said slowly. “I killed that boy.” Bob, the handsome Soc, was lying there in the moonlight, doubled up and still. A dark pool was growing from him, spreading slowly over the blue-white cement. I looked at Johnny’s hand. He was clutching his switchblade, and it was dark to the hilt. My stomach gave a violent jump and my blood turned icy.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade and Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 4, Page 56
“I never noticed colors and and clouds and stuff until you kept reminding me about them. It seems like they were never there before.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 5, Page 78
“Would you rather have me living in hide-outs for the rest of my life, always on the run?” Johnny asked seriously.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 6, Page 90
“We went in, practically on tiptoe, because the quietness of the hospital scared us. Johnny was lying still, with his eyes closed, but when Two-Bit said, “Hey, Johnnykid,” he opened them and looked at us, trying to grin. “Hey, y’all.”
The nurse, who was pulling the shades open, smiled and said, “So he can talk after all.”
Two-Bit looked around. “They treatin’ you okay, kid?”
“Don’t…” —Johnny gasped— “don’t let me put enough grease on my hair.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade and Two-Bit), Chapter 8, Page 120
“Johnny almost grinned as he nodded. “Tuff enough,” he managed, and by the way his eyes were glowing, I figured Southern gentlemen had nothing on Johnny Cade.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade and Ponyboy as narrator), Chapter 8, Page 120
“I don’t want to die now. It ain’t long enough. Sixteen years ain’t long enough. I wouldn’t mind it so much if there wasn’t so much stuff I ain’t done yet and so many things I ain’t seen. It’s not fair.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 8, Page 121
“I said I don’t want to see her…tell her to leave me alone. For once.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 8, Page 122
“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold . . .” The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade), Chapter 9, Page 148
“I’ve been thinking about it, and that poem, that guy that wrote it, he meant you’re gold when you’re a kid, like green. When you’re a kid everything’s new, dawn. It’s just when you get used to everything that it’s day. Like the way you dig sunsets, Pony. That’s gold. Keep that way, it’s a good way to be.”
~Susan E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade’s note to Ponyboy) Chapter 12, Page 178
“You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There’s still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don’t think he knows.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, (Character: Johnny Cade’s note to Ponyboy), Chapter 12, Page 179
Quotes that describe Johnny Cade from the outsiders
“Johnny Cade was last and least. If you can picture a little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of strangers, you’ll have Johnny. He was the youngest, next to me, smaller than the rest, with a slight build. He had big black eyes in a dark tanned face; his hair was jet-black and heavily greased and combed to the side, but it was so long that it fell in shaggy bangs across his forehead. He had a nervous, suspicious look in his eyes, and that beating he got from the Socs didn’t help matters. He was the gang’s pet, everyone’s kid brother. His father was always beating him up, and his mother ignored him, except when she was hacked off at something, and then you could hear her yelling at him clear down at our house. I think he hated that worse than getting whipped. He would have run away a million times if we hadn’t been there. If it hadn’t been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 1, Pages 11, 12
“I guess he had listened to more beefs and more problems from more people than any of us. A guy that’ll really listen to you, listen and care about what you’re saying, is something rare.”
~S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders, about Johnny, friendship (Character: Ponyboy as the narrator), Chapter 12, Page 178