Who Is Two-Bit In The Outsiders

It’s undeniable that the greasers of S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders have rough and difficult lives. Ponyboy handles this through taking comfort in Soda. Dally hardens himself to the point of inhumanity. Keith Matthews, called “Two-Bit”, tricks himself into being indifferent as his coping mechanism. At first look, it might not seem like Two-Bit is anything more than a light-hearted, humorous greaser, but there is evidence within the book that Two-Bit intentionally tries to appear as though he has little substance. When Ponyboy is trying to discuss an uneasy feeling he has about the rumble with Two-Bit, Ponyboy realizes, “Two-Bit knew what I meant, but doggedly pretended not to” (127). Also, when Steve asks Two-Bit, as he attempts to recover the switchblade he lent to the recently shot and killed Dally, if the switchblade is the only thing bothering him, Two-Bit remarks, “No, … but that’s what I’m wishing was all that’s bothering me” (178).

He didn’t harden himself, yes, but he hid behind a mask. He essentially tries to convince himself, and others, that his world doesn’t bother him in order to reduce the pain it would otherwise cause him. At any sign of depth or longing for a better life, he shuts himself off. When Ponyboy is talking to Two-Bit about not wanting to fight, he does this. He sees where Ponyboy is going, and stays consistent to the character he pretends to be, one who wouldn’t bat an eye at the thought of crushing the Socs. Later, he even admits this after Dally’s death. He tries desperately to keep this mask up, pretending that his only care is his switchblade, but he simply can’t. So, in that moment where he truly lets his guard down and admits that he misses Dally and is sad about his death, the reader gets to see the real Keith Matthews, instead of his alter-ego,