Character Analysis: The Outsiders

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Juliette Blalock Singh 4/5 In the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton focuses on Ponyboy Curtis, a young orphan in a gang known as the Greasers that consists of Pony’s brothers and other delinquents. When Ponyboy and Johnny, a friend and fellow gang member, get into trouble, they turn to the gang for help. After they escape, they decide to turn themselves in, which causes question about whether or not Darry, Ponyboy's legal guardian and brother, is fit to take care of his brothers. Ponyboy should stay with Darry and Soda instead of going into a boys home because the Greasers and his brothers has an inseparable bond, Darry pushes Pony to do better, and he would dread entering a different home. Ponyboy's parents are both dead, so he sees his brothers and his gang as the only family he has left. After Johnny killed a Soc, he stated “I had to. They were drowning you, Pony. hey might have killed you” (57). The gang will do everything in their power to help him, no matter the cost. This shows the loyalty the Greasers display, where a new family …show more content…

After Pony came back from running away and saving the children, he asks “‘You mean’ -- I swallowed hard -- ‘that they’re thinking about putting me in a boys’ home or something?” (91) to one of the Greasers. This shows that Ponyboy wanted to stay with his brothers, no matter what happened. Pony would not choose to leave, but he would rather stay with his family. When Ponyboy came home from the hospital, Darry explained to him that “You kept asking for me and Soda, sometimes Mom or Dad, too” (134) when he told Darry he did not remember what happened. Pony loves his family, and depends on them for support. This also shows that he would not have been with someone he loves if he was taken away, so he may not feel safe or secure. Pony dreads the idea of a boys home, and would choose his family to take care of

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