Manipulation In Johnny Tremain By Esther Forbes

In the beginning of the book, Johnny is prideful, easily influenced, quick to criticize those who annoy him, and often loses his temper. Throughout the book, Rab’s somewhat opposite characteristics change Johnny. When Johnny first meets Rab, he describes him by stating he had “an ease and confidence flowed out

11). Johnny was lost and alone, which was different from Dallas Winston. Dally had found where he wanted to go, downhill, while Jonny couldn’t even start to find a path. Even though he was encouraged by bad friends and habits, he refused to act anything like his mother or father. Johnny also wanted to change to be the best he could be while still on Earth. While they were waiting for Dallas to help them out of the abandoned church, he said, “‘I didn’t mean to,’ he finally blurted out, ‘but they were drowning’ you and I was so scared’”(Hinton, p. 74). Johnny only used his switchblade to protect others, not to fight and rumble like most of the gang. He saved Ponyboy, yet feels so bad for killing Bob; he was an innocent boy trying to find the right way out of the situation, and even risking his life for Pony. Nevertheless, some people disagree with some statements I have made.

Johnny finds that he is responsible to take Rab’s place as a soldier after Rab’s death. It casts responsibility on

In his ten years of living with her, he was abused, mentally and physically. He would get whipped, cut, beaten, shot, unfed, etc. then the children were not any better in the neighborhood. They would pick on him, insult him and his mother, beat him when he was alone. But there was one person who was there for him, that person was Officer Malley Jones. He was a well respected officer, and that went especially for Johnny, as one day when the other children were ganging up on Johnny, all

Throughout the novel Johnny Tremain, the author, Esther Forbes, displays the universal concepts of growing up and changing. When the story began, the protagonist, Johnny Tremain, was a fourteen-year-old boy. At the end of the novel, Johnny emerges as a sixteen-year-old man, unrecognizable from his younger self, due to carrying characteristics that contrast the traits of the young boy he once was. As Johnny aged in the story, he underwent immense changes. Johnny had changed by gaining the knowledge of how to make good choices, obtaining a better comprehension on things in life, and learning to value certain items or deeds in life.

Finally, one of the most evident misconceptions Johnny has is the one of himself due to the knowledge no one shares with him. He does not know about his true identity, and no one in his life will give him any answers. In all, this misconception is the most impacting on Johnny's life as he wishes to know here he came from. The two people he holds closest to him can grant this wish but never do. Johnny doesn't find out about the truth of his father until his mom and Owen Meany have passed away. Owen says through Reverend Merrill and then Johnny narrates, "'LOOK IN THE THIRD DRAWER, RIGHT-HAND SIDE,' God said. And there was the ball that Owen Meany hit; and there was my wretched father, asking me to forgive him" (Irving 479). This

It has become his way of life; if he is not doubting his religion then he is doubting his students or his acquaintances, for he has no real friends. As the novel transitions between different time periods, Johnny’s habit of self-perpetuated doubt becomes more evident to the reader. He has become so consumed by doubt that he even questions the sole person he calls his closest friend; pondering, “I still tease Katherine about those days. What if she’d been headmistress when I applied for a job? Would she have hired me?” (Irving 284). Johnny also directly doubts his religion even after strongly affirming his devotion to the Anglican faith. He testifies, “I am an Anglican now, and I shall die an Anglican. But I skip a Sunday service now and then; I make no claims to be especially pious…” (Irving 3). Here he shows his doubt towards how involved with his religion he really is, compared with what he claims. This indicates an obvious inconsistency with how devoted Johnny really is to his proclaimed faith, and shows how he continues to inwardly question what he believes, while conforming to the idea of a confirmed faith.

Although Johnny retreats occasionally back in the present, Johnny’s life as a Canadian citizen shows a hint of ambiguity in terms of his emotional stability. His feelings of bitterness and hatred show signs of depression which ties into his hallucination of Owen in his grandmother’s basement. Johnny feels “a small, strong hand” pull him “forward from where” he stands and hears “Owen’s voice” say “DON’T BE AFRAID” because “NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO” him (517). His hallucination of Owen plays a role in his loss of doubt whereas he sees this also as a miracle. Losing a loved one can cause great signs of grief and takes effort for someone to overcome depression. Death has the capability of testing one’s faith, which in Johnny’s,

In the book "The Outsiders" by S. E. Hinton, Johnny hardly ever saw the good things in life and his parents weren't much help. Johnny changed in his perspective of life and how he feels about his detrimental situation. His mother and father never payed attention to him except for those times when the would physically and verbally abuse him. The Socs. also did damage when they beat him up one night.

Johnny has a fear of Socs after getting jumped by them, which led him to kill Bob. He is regularly beaten by his father and emotionally abused by his mother. Ponyboy mentioned a quotation of Johnny   “ 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.” After Johnny killed Bob trying to protect Ponyboy from drowning he ran away with Ponyboy to an abandoned church in Windrixville. At the time he was afraid of anybody that he thought could hurt him. When the church went up in flames Johnny made the decision to run in with Ponyboy to save the children in the burning building. His gallant actions led to him being paralyzed, but he learned to overcome his fears of easily being frightened. Before that, he always used to think about killing himself because he was scared and hurt, but now knowing that he has something to live for he thought he was too young to die. He said this “you want to know something, Ponyboy? I’m scared stiff. I used to think about killing myself… ”, “ 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. You know what? That time we were in Windrixville was the only time I’ve been away from our neighbourhood.” Thus, adversity can help to overcome the hardships and

3. Johnny becomes aware of political matters by reading the newspaper, talking with Rab and Mr. Lorne, and talking to the people he delivers The Observer to.

He became a Whig who disliked the British and wanted independence. Johnny's involvement helped Revolutionary War efforts. He notified members of the Observer's Club about meetings and participated in the Boston Tea Party. At the beginning, Johnny did not feel strongly about the fight for independence. He lived with the Laphams, who were loyalists. As a silversmith's apprentice, Johnny was not affected by the British. When he lived with Rab and delivered newspapers, he became a patriot. Rab's uncle Lorne was a patriot who published the Boston Observer, a Whig newspaper. Johnny assisted with the Observer's Club, a top-secret club of rebels in Boston. He also participated in the Boston Tea Party. At the end of the book, Johnny planned to fight in the American Revolution. Doctor Warren was to fix his hand, which would allow him to shoot a gun. Johnny was angry at the British, and was willing to risk his life for independence. These changes as Johnny grew up were important as he planned to fight in the American

To begin, Johnny is innocent for the murder of Bob concidering that Bob was killing Johnny’s third party Ponyboy, leaving Johnny to use self defence. “ ‘I had

In The Outsiders, Johnny and Darry find themselves struggling with the stereotype society has labeled them with. While in the park, Johnny and his friend Ponyboy are jumped by five Socs. Unexpectedly, Johnny stands up for himself and protects his friend. On page 56, the text states, “‘I killed him,’ he said slowly. ‘I killed that boy’. Bob the handsome Soc, was lying there in the moonlight, doubled up and still.” This demonstrates that although Johnny is considered a timid and innocent person, he proves that how he acts in the gang is different from how he acts in the outside world. This is unexpected because Johnny is always the one being cared for in the gang. However, he protected his friend by killing someone. Johnny’s actions prove that our assumptions about others are wrong. This matters because society needs to realize that based on stereotypes, we incorrectly judge others before getting to know them. Johnny is a clear example of what happens when one is judged based on assumptions. Another example of this theme is reflected when Darry breaks down at a hospital after finding out that his younger brother, Ponyboy, is going to be okay. On pages 98-99, the text states, “‘Darry,

Johnny’s internal issues are as equally grievous as his external issues. He practically raised his siblings since he was six years old, and started to work in factories when he was seven. Due to his early start transferring to adulthood, he never really had the chance to experience a jovial and enjoyable childhood. Johnny “had been robbed of a large part of that playtime by being compelled to take care of [his siblings] … he had fallen the part of little mother and father as well” (8). Johnny does not have any pleasurable memories to look back on and confirm that his upbringing readied him to steadily transition to adulthood. His mother is not a major help in his life, consequently making him uphold both roles of provider and supporter when it comes to his family. With no time for himself, it was evident in Johnny’s face that “there was no joyousness in him…