For being the member of the gang that Ponyboy describes as being the "least" and like a lost puppy that had been kicked around too much, Johnny displays a great deal of bravery throughout the text. Readers can see a little bit of this already in chapter two, when Johnny tells Dally to leave Cherry and her friend alone. Keep in mind that Dally is genuinely scary. He is a Greaser that has actually spent time in jail. He is tougher and meaner than all of the other Greasers, but more importantly, Johnny idolizes him. It took a huge amount of courage for Johnny to tell Dally to leave the girls alone because he risks offending his hero.

That moment isn't the only moment that Johnny stands up to Dally either. Chapter six begins with Johnny saying that he is going to go back and turn himself in. That definitely shows a lot of courage to give himself up to the authorities. Dally actually pleads with Johnny to change his mind, and Ponyboy is shocked to see this softer side of Dally. It must have been shocking for Johnny too, but Johnny finds the courage to continue, convincing Dally while also further displaying his commitment to his decision:

"Would you rather have me living in hide-outs for the rest of my life, always on the run?" Johnny asked seriously.

The question took guts because Dally could have answered yes, and Johnny might not have been able to go through with his decision.

Another good quote from Johnny happens while he is in the hospital. Readers have been repeatedly told that Johnny's parents are terrible parents that abuse him both emotionally and physically, yet Johnny continues to passively take their abuse. We aren't sure why, but we can probably assume that Johnny simply hasn't found the courage to stand up to his parents. That changes in the hospital. Johnny's mother has come to visit him which does indicate that she might care on some level for Johnny; however, Johnny finally finds the courage to push back against his mother. He tells the nurse that he won't see his own mother, and he says it with powerful conviction:

"I said I don't want to see her." His voice was rising. "She's probably come to tell me about all the trouble I'm causing her and about how glad her and the old man'll be when I'm dead. Well, tell her to leave me alone. For once"—his voice broke—"for once just to leave me alone."

S.E. Hinton uses Johnny Cade's vulnerable personality and broken home life in The Outsiders to suggest that heroes do not have to be perfect.  Throughout the novel, Hinton characterizes Johnny as coming from terrible circumstances: an abusive father, a critical, non-caring mother, and living on the wrong 'side of the tracks.'  Ponyboy observes while reading Gone With the Wind that Johnny was really impressed by those "gallant" Southern gentlemen because they reminded him of Dally, whom he also perceived as being gallant.  Johnny admired those men and Dally for their bravery, and when circumstances required his action, Johnny acted bravely as well.

When the church building caught on fire, Johnny acted as bravely as those southern gentlemen who "[rode] into sure death because they were gallant."  Despite his abusive background, Johhny still put others before himself, going into the church to rescue trapped kids without a second thought to his own personal safety.  He stayed long enough to make sure all of the kids were evacuated safely, even though he and Ponyboy could see the roof falling in around him.  Johnny's actions were extremely heroic, shoving Ponyboy through the window at the last second.  He saved his friend, and in the process, sacrificed himself.  Johnny Cade acted selflessly when he was needed the most and saved the lives of his friend and other children he had never met before.  Hinton uses his actions in the novel to remind the reader that greatness comes from the individual; social class or circumstance has nothing to do with heroism.

Johnny Cade is a hero when he helps rescue the kids from the church fire.

When Johnny kills Bob, he is acting in self-defense.  Bob is drunk and goes after Johnny.  Johnny is actually a gentle soul, and kind at heart.  After Johnny’s accident, Dally tells Johnny and Pony to leave town and hide at an old abandoned church.

The boys spend some time at the church just reading and waiting for Dally to come and get them.  Then some kids come to the church on a field trip, and someone a fire starts.

There was a crowd at the front of the church, mostly little kids, and I wondered how they'd gotten there so quickly. (ch 6, p. 91)

When Johnny realizes that there might be kids trapped in the church, he goes in to help.  Johnny does not think about himself.  He is worried about a life on the run and feels guilty about killing Bob, but at that moment he and Pony just want to help.

Pony enters the burning church, and realizes Johnny is right behind him.  When they get to the kids, Johnny is acting like a different person.  He is calm and assertive.

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. (ch 6, p. 93)

Dally orders them to leave, but they ignore them.  Then there is a crash and Pony hears Johnny scream.

When Pony wakes up, he realizes that Johnny has gotten badly hurt.

A piece of timber caught him across the back-he might have a broken back, and he was burned pretty severely. (ch 6, p. 96)

Unfortunately, Johnny does not survive his injuries.  However, he dies a hero.  Johnny felt terrible about the fight with Bob, and had never been the same after being jumped by the Socs.  Although he did not survive the fire, he died doing something that mattered to him.  In rescuing the kids, he found himself.

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It is hard to say if he was a hero in general, but I would say that, at two points in the book, at least, he is a hero.

First, he clearly acts like a hero acts at the fire.  Anyone who will risk themselves to save others is a hero at that moment.  It does not mean they are great people all that time, but at that moment, they are heroes.

Second, I think you can argue that Johnny is a hero as he dies.  Instead of thinking only of himself and feeling sorry for himself, he is clearly focused on others.  It is his note to Pony that helps motivate Pony to "stay gold."

So, in those two instances at least, I would say he is acting like a hero.

I would begin your essay by describing the characteristics of a hero, and mentioning how those same traits are portrayed in the character of Johnny Cade from the novel The Outsiders. In the first paragraph, I would write about Johnny's troubled childhood and background, as well as comment on how he was viewed as everyone's younger brother in the gang. You could also mention Johnny's unique ability to listen and understand each person's struggles. I would suggest you connect his capacity to help others with a hero's goal to aid society.

In the following two paragraphs, I would discuss how Johnny specifically saves various people's lives throughout the novel. Begin by describing how Johnny saves Ponyboy's life by stabbing Bob Sheldon, which prevents Ponyboy from drowning. Then, discuss how Johnny plans on turning himself into the authorities. Johnny's selfless act and decision to do the right thing correlate with how a hero would make the morally conscious decision. I would then describe how Johnny courageously enters the burning church and saves the group children trapped inside. Also, comment on how the media portrays Johnny as a hero in the newspapers.

In the final paragraph, describe the scene where Johnny tells Dally that fighting is useless and says, "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold..." (Hinton 126). Also, include what Johnny says in the letter he writes to Pony found in Chapter 12. Johnny mentions that saving the children was worth it, describes what he meant by telling Ponyboy to stay gold, and also encourages Ponyboy to tell Dally to look at a sunset. Johnny's message to Ponyboy is his way of attempting to save Ponyboy from a meaningless existence. In his letter, he also ventures to save Dally's life by sharing the positive aspects of the world with him. Johnny's selfless personality and willingness to risk his life for others can be described as heroic.