The Role Of Conflict In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

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The Outsiders is a novel based on the main conflict between the Socials and Greasers. The Greasers are from the east side of town, usually poor, long hair, somewhat gangster or “hood”. But the Socials, or socs, are upper class and are from the western area of town. The two social classes have been in a feud for as long as the protagonist, Pony Curtis, could remember. The characters in the novel overcome obstacles beyond, as well as within, their control by continuing on with their life and going day by day. One of the major obstacles that the characters had to face was the murder of Bob Sheldon. Johnny had stabbed Bob because the Socs were “drowning Pony. They might have killed him. And they had a blade…” (S.E. Hinton 57). Johnny knew that a member of his gang could have been killed and did what he had to, not thinking of the consequences or what would happen after. They wound up running off to an abandoned church on Jay Mountain on instruction from Dally Winston. They had grabbed a week’s worth of canned food and hid in the church. “By the fifth day I was so tired of baloney I nearly got sick every time I looked at it” (S.E. Hinton 78). Johnny and Pony were awaiting Dally to come and let them know that the coast is clear back in town. Once Dally came they all went …show more content…

Society. They felt as if it was them against everyone else. They were seen as "white trash with long hair” (S.E. Hinton 55). The Greasers didn’t exactly overcome this obstacle, but merely went with it, dealt. Pony and Soda were also in danger of being taken by social services. They went to court on account of Bob Sheldon’s death, Pony afraid that he would be taken by social services. Pony was scared “the judge (would) decide Darry isn't a good guardian or something.” And that he’s “liable to get stuck in a home somewhere” (S.E. Hinton 165). Pony and Soda ended up staying with Darry. This was an obstacle that was out of their hands, but was definitely

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