Hope in Death Is Not Proud The novel Death Is Not Proud, by John Gunther, is the story of a child's struggle to survive. Johnny Gunther Jr.'s constant hope made him get out of bed every morning with a positive attitude. His total opposition to the fact that he was about to die and his determination not to do so, kept a fiery spirit in him so much so that he did not give up. Johnny's stubborn determination not to accept defeat at such an early age, coupled with the enormous courage he showed in realizing that he had to accept his defeat, is a strength represented in this novel. Johnny's hope, determination and courage kept his death at bay. One of the main reasons why Johnny stayed alive much longer than he should have lived was the hope he possessed. He hoped every day of his illness that he would get better, that his parents would be spared from pain, or that some doctor would have a revolutionary idea that would cure him. Because of his hope, Johnny never complained or protested throughout the course of his illness. He always obeyed the doctors' wishes and followed their instructions to the letter because he desperately wanted to get well. Although he realized that sooner or later his life would end, he never gave up hope that perhaps he could outsmart his fate of dying, even if only to steal a few more hours. Every day, until the last, the determination Johnny had to heal, live a normal life, and even keep up with his homework was phenomenal. After being away from school for sixteen months, being constantly tested by doctors, and having a rapidly deteriorating brain, Johnny still managed to graduate with his class and be accepted into Harvard. Throughout his illness, Johnny always had an unshakable will to survive, to wake up the next morning and discover that he was fine, that he had only dreamed the nightmare of his illness. However, when Johnny woke up every morning, he felt the bandage on his head and realized that he was living this horrible nightmare. But despite this terrible disappointment, Johnny continued to fight, determined to recover. Johnny should be admired for not giving up under the intense emotional burden of knowing that every breath could be his last. Johnny's story will be remembered for the courage he had.