#barely a good person? johnny cade? who spends the whole novel wanting to be good?

[boysborntodie]

It’s just so hard to get a balanced characterisation of Johnny. Like it’s unfortunately really easy to fall into one extreme. Like yes he killed Bob because he never wanted Bob to scare him again but also Johnny is upset at this and wishes it hadn’t come to that. No he is not weak, he’s emotionally strong and his life has probably made him physically tough too but also he is small and considerably less physically strong than the other boys (this is important to his character because these are things he’s insecure of and admires Dally for). Yes Johnny is very much a greaser and this means that he’s not entirely innocent but also he IS law-abiding, he doesn’t like committing crimes and would rather live an honest life, also he has a strong moral centre and disapproves when others cross lines. Johnny has flaws and can be jaded and angry and maybe even mean but at his heart he is someone who values kindness and goodness above all else and strives to be good. There needs to be nuance here