Analysis Of S. E Hinton's The Outsiders

In S.E Hinton’s The Outsiders, a “Greaser” having promise is impossible.A Greaser can not be promising; they are the lowest of society. There is, however, against considerable odds, a Greaser who shows incredible promise. Darrel Curtis, eldest son of his deceased parents and guardian of his two younger brothers, was one of the only characters who showed major promise. However, society refused to accept that he had potential. Darrel Curtis showed major promise and should have had a favorable future regardless of his lack of wealth because of his determination, hard work, and intelligence.

Most Greasers drop out of school or simply stop caring for various legitimate reasons such as a lack or wealth or having the system reject them whenever

In this case, talent can be and is represented by what you have been given and or your socioeconomic status, and if you don’t work hard, someone else who works hard should be given opportunities regardless of their “talent” or lack thereof. The Socs have been handed a lot and were born into the higher end of the socioeconomic spectrum and choose not to work hard. Darry, on the other hand, wasn’t handed a lot and was born on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum, but he chose to work hard so he should have gotten a chance at a future. However, society judges promise on wealth and “talent”, neither of which Darry has. Darry works as a roofer, causing injury to himself, to ensure his own and his family’s survival. But as a Greaser, nothing he does matters, or even deserves to matter. He worked hard in school earning him a scholarship. Even more so, he balanced getting those good grades with being on the school football team. His hardwork and his balance between athletics and academia earned him a scholarship. But even with his scholarship, he couldn’t afford college. But, he didn’t give up. Then, in a fatal car crash, his parents die, removing any chance of him being able to go to college for at the very least the near future or more likely, the rest of his life. But that wasn't all. With his parents no longer around, he had to care for his

Greasers are the lowest of society and deserve whatever they get for being a Greaser nor do they deserve any chance to escape the vicious cycle of poverty and judgement and become anything but a Greaser. None of these beliefs are true, but society believes them to be true. Though it is true that many Greasers give up and conform to society’s expectations, who can blame them? In a society that will never accept them, why should they bother? However, Darrel Curtis, a Greaser, refuses to believe in his inherent “lack of worth” as a Greaser, unlike many of his friends and family. He is equal to or better than most Socs, and people can see it, yet few believe it and even fewer choose to make any note of it. The few people who take note of it, his family and a very select few, note that had he been born under slightly different circumstances such as not being born poor and had his parents not die, he could have been a Soc, gone to college and succeeded at life. Darry should have had a future regardless of his lack of socioeconomic status because of his considerable intelligence, hardwork and