“Son-1e bad things are good”. Romeo and Juliet, The Outsiders, and The Scarlet Ibis all have this theme in common. Death is a factor in all of these stories. The sadness written by the authors can be seen as happy too Death is a sad thing no matter what. But it can be happy too. In Romeo and Juliet, the star crossed lovers get married just one day after they meet. But this love doesn’t last for the two both commit suicide shortly after, Some say it was a “bad ending” because they will never be able to truly be together; but maybe this is a good thing. For example in Act 2 Scene 3, Friar Lawrence says, “For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households’ rancour to pure love.” (Shakespeare) He is telling Romeo that he will marry him and Juliet and hopefully this marriage will bring the fighting families to peace But thats not what stopped the feuding. It was the death of the star crossed lovers, The good came from the bad. In The Outsiders, Johnny’s death was a huge part.
It was shocking to the readers because he was a big part in the story. Johnny is a greaser and doesn‘t have a great home life. He doesn‘t have a lot of money or nice clothes. He’s still the sweetest boy you’d meet, Johnny ran into a burning building to save young kids, but ended up getting crushed and burned by debris. Johnny says in the hospital, “Listen, I don’t mind dying now, It’s worth it, It’s worth saving those kids. Their lives are worth more than mine, they have more to live for. Some of their parents came by to thank me and I know it was worth it.” (Hinton) Johnny’s death was hard on everyone in the book, but no one really saw the good that came from Johnny getting hurt and dying; he saved the lives of many younger kids.
The kids had a better life and home life than Johnny, so he saw that their lives were valuable. Johnny didn’t have that, so he wanted to make sure the kids who could have a good life, got one, The Scarlet Ibis who is about a boy who has a brother named Doodle who was born with very sensitive and red fleshy skin, He can’t run, walk, or stand, Doodle eventually learns to stand and walk but can’t really run. At the end Doodle and his brother get caught in a storm and because if Doodle’s sensitive skin and his inability to run, he dies Doodle‘s death was sad, but it was good in a way, “The doctor had said that he mustn’t get too excited, too hot, too cold, or too tired and that he must always be treated gentlyHnHis skin was very sensitive, and he had to wear a big straw hat whenever he went out” (James Hurst)
Now Doodle won‘t have to be scared all the time because of his skin, he won’t get anymore weird looks or get left behind This was better for Doodle because he was not physically meant to be on the outside world, Lots of good and lots of bad come from death These three stories happen to be prime examples of ways death can be put in a good way. Not all bad events can be good, but the ones with a reason in the end really do stand out. The theme “Some bad things are good” fits perfectly with these stories.
