“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything” (George Bernard Shaw.) In the novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, the narrator and protagonist, Ponyboy experiences much change throughout the book. Through the joy, sadness, excitement, and pain Ponyboy feels in the novel, he understands his brother, Darry, better, begins to see the rival gang, the Socs, in a new light, and becomes a person who stands up for himself and others. One way Ponyboy changes throughout the novel is that he comes to understand his brother, Darry, much better. After Ponyboy is hospitalized due to injuries he receives from trying to save kids in a burning church, Ponyboy realizes, “In that second what Soda and Dally and Two-Bit had been try to tell me came through…because he cared he was trying too hard to make something of me” (Hinton 98.) When Pony sees …show more content…
While talking to Cherry after the movie, Ponyboy thought, “Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset” (Hinton 41.) In thinking this, Ponyboy realizes that Socs and Greasers sometimes had the same, if not similar, experiences. He also begins to understand the true difference between Greasers and Socs; Greasers feel things too violently, and Socs don’t or barely feel things at all. Then, when Ponyboy is talking to Randy at a Tasty Freeze store, he talks about why he saves the kids in the church. “Greaser didn’t have anything to do with it… it’s the individual” (Hinton 115.) Ponyboy says this because he discovers that, just like the Greasers, there are Socs who are genuine, kind people that don’t fit the stereotype of being mean and heartless. Ponyboy also begins to realize that Socs have hardships just as much as the Greasers, and their lives aren’t perfect. Overall, Ponyboy comes to realize that Socs are similar to him, and some are actual
It came to mind that after the movie, Two-bit realized that Cherry and Marcia did not have a ride home. So they walk to Two-bit’s house to get the car. As they walk, Ponyboy and Cherry talk about the differences between Socs and greasers and how they act and how poor or rich they are. Later on Ponyboy finds himself talking to Cherry about Sodapops old horse Mickey Mouse. Then Ponyboy realizes that two different worlds we live in are not so different after all because we look at the same sunset everyday. Until Marcia spots a blue mustang that belongs to the socs. At first, the socs didn’t notice them until they see their girlfriends hanging out with the greasers. When the socs get out of the mustang they defend their girls then turn to the greasers.
This started to happen when he was in the church trying to hide away from the police because of the murder of one of the Soc’s. “I was trembling, and it wasn’t all from cold” (Hilton p.57). This shows that Ponyboy was scared, starting to break, and noticed that maybe this “hard bad boy” life isn't for him. Ponyboy put more and more thought about what it takes to be a greaser, which made him realize that maybe the gang life wasn’t good for him. “We were good fighters and could play cool, but we were sensitive and that isn’t a good way to be when you’re a greaser” (Hinton, p.88). Ponyboy is expressing that it is hard to be as strong as the other boys and sometimes he just couldn't or he couldn't be ok with what they were doing. “It drives my brother Darry nuts when I do stuff like that, ‘cause I’m supposed to be smart’ I make good grades and have a high IQ and everything, but I don't use my head” (Hinton, p.4). Ponyboy knows he has the potential to be something else and while being in hiding in the church it helps him realize that if he really wanted to he could be whatever he puts his mind
He realizes that he had an identity that he can communicate and be like a greaser, but doesn’t devote to the greaser way of life. In the scene, Ponyboy has an advanced way of life that includes both the Soc and greaser style, “Socs are just guys after all...Thing are rough all over.” Ponyboy at this time, understands how a Soc and a Greaser are similar and are of the same kind, human, yet are also different. He establishes an idea that the identity of a person is important because it describes who you are. As a result, Pony learns to look between the lines of people, not just at the extremes. The evidence that supports this is also “On the Sidewalk Bleeding” as I stated before. Andy says, “I’m Andy, he screamed wordlessly, I’m Andy.” When Andy’s death was coming close, the only thing we wanted in the end, was an identity. Similar to Ponyboy who is different from the gang and has a distinct personality. He is disparate because in the gang, Pony was the only one who ever thought about the sky, clouds, and books, which proves him exclusively in the group. This proves that Andy and Ponyboy are different from their gang and have a personality different from the group, and they both actually want to be different and be known not as a Royal or a Greaser, but as Andy and
In the book The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy, along with his brothers and friends, has to face the daily struggles of being a greaser among the Socs. This fiction book focused on Ponyboy’s life and the problems he ran into with the Socs. He and his gang of friends had fights with the Socs that happened often, and had to deal with a Soc being killed by one of the Greasers, though it was an act of self defense. The three topics addressed in this intriguing novel are the fight between rich and poor, the power of friendship, and what it means to be a hero.
Could a person live in a world without people who love and care for them? Could people survive in a world where they were judged by how they were presented on the outside? S.E. Hinton, the author of The Outsiders, discusses many universal themes, such as friendship, stereotyping, and change. In The Outsiders, two rival groups, the socs and the greasers, are separated by social class. The friendship between the greasers will be tested when an unexpected event changes everything. The greasers must learn that people experience many tragic events, no matter who the person is. Based on the universal themes, the readers will begin to understand how the characters in the novel grow and change, and how friendship and family help along the way.
The Socs were just trying to get under Ponyboy’s skin because he isn’t friends with them, and the Socs just want to get him mad. “Hey, grease. One said… We’re gonna do you a favor, greaser. We’re gonna cut all that long greasy hair off.” They threatened him for being a Greaser and this shows how they don’t like Greasers. The quote shows that Soc’s bully the greasers for being poor and having trashy hair. The Socs are basically just pestering and taunting him for no reason except for he’s not one of their kind and he’s poor and a
In S.E. Hinton’s book, The Outsiders, children born on the wrong side of town grow up to be juvenile, teenage hoods. In this book, these teenage delinquents are the Greasers, whose only "rival" is the Socials, or "Socs," as an abbreviation. The characters within The Outsiders unmistakably choose a remote. lifestyle of juvenile delinquency and crime. Ilanna Sharon Mandel wrote an article called, "What Causes Juvenile Delinquency?" This editorial presents many circumstances that can be applied to the main character, or protagonist, Ponyboy Michael Curtis and his brothers, friends, and neighbors. Their behavior may not always lead them to the right side of the law, but it is the cause of juvenile delinquency that gets them in. trouble.
“Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us get to stay together only as long as we behave (2).” This explains why Ponyboy, Dally and Sodapop did not have parents. In the novel, this really effected their life and character. "…It was Darry. He hit me. I don't know what happened, but I couldn't take him hollering at me and hitting me too... He didn't use to be like that... we used to get along okay... before Mom and Dad died. Now he just can't stand me (2)." This shows that not having their parents anymore effected Darry’s character and how he treated Ponyboy, which in return effected how Ponyboy felt about himself in comparison to how he was treated. This illustrates that Ponyboy believes that Darry picks on him all the time. This shows that Darry was like a caring parent in a tough way,
One example of Ponyboy being sensitive would be when he picks up the pieces of the broken glass so that no one would get a flat tire. This character can also be described as smart when Darry tells him how intelligent he is and that he has the brains to get a scholarship and go to college. Finally, this character can be considered brave when he risks his life to save the children stuck in the burning church. In this book, Ponyboy learns to deal with the right and wrong of society. He grows up and was judged by his appearance and social status, but at the end of the book, the two gangs overcome their differences to realize they are more alike than they
Dally is mocking a Soc named Cherry, calling her ‘fiery’ and saying that’s how he likes girls. He then proceeds to put his arm around her, when Johnny, who idolizes Dally, stops him and says, “Leave her alone, Dally.” (Hinton 24) This dismisses two stereotypes about Johnny, that he is a ‘lost puppy’ who needs the rest of the group to defend him, and that Greasers shouldn't care what happens to Socs. This is significant because it shows Pony that Johnny is stronger than he thought before, and that he might be as caring and thoughtful as Ponyboy is. Later in the book, Randy, a Soc, is talking to Ponyboy about Bob, Randy's best friend who Johnny killed to save Ponyboy's life. Randy tells Ponyboy that all Bob wanted was for his parents to get him in trouble. Randy then dismisses the conversation about Bob by saying, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I couldn't tell anyone else.” (Hinton 116) This is invalidating the stereotype that Socs and Greasers have nothing in common, and should hate each other. Randy and Ponyboy in particular, considering that Ponyboy was there the night Randy’s best friend died. This matters because it is showing that Socs and Greasers might be able to understand each other better than people within their own group, although they are stereotyped to be complete
He separated himself from the Greaser collective and made his identity his own. He no longer saw himself as only a Greaser and began to mold his identity and become more diverse. He decided that he did not want to fight anymore. He saw it as a pointless thing and became altruistic. He became an independent person and evolved to a higher state of thinking. He changed his identity and it changed even more when he went to the countryside with Johnny. When Ponyboy and Johnny ran away into the countryside after killing someone, they hid in a church until Dally their friend came to meet them. He came and they were going to head back to the church when they saw that it was on fire with kids inside. Ponyboy and Johnny made the split-second to go into the church to save the kids. Johnny, Dally, and Ponyboy went into the flaming building and managed to save the kids at the sacrifice of their health. Ponyboy was selfless and committed a selfless deed. He changed his identity even more. He no longer felt for himself and Greasers. He did the right thing and changed his identity; he believed in doing the right thing. Ponyboy committed a deed of good and changed to become unselfish. Ponyboy felt that he was a Greaser and that was who he was. He changed as he realized what he really was and what potential he had. He began doing the right thing and was more altruistic. He changed for the better and was a kinder, stronger, selfless
The book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, follows a horrific part of the life of a boy named Ponyboy Curtis. He is what you might call a Greaser, and has had a rough go at it in his life compared to others. It is difficult, but Ponyboy somehow manages to be himself and has the tenacity to stick through it all. He is in a gang with his friends and family and they are loyal to one another no matter what. A rival gang from the Socs crowd, a richer, more refined group, send him and his pals into a whirlwind of trouble and hurt. This book shows on multiple occasions that perseverance is necessary to get through life .
If your whole life changes when one event happens, people you love die, and you're in danger of getting put in a foster home what do you do? Ponyboy, the main character of The Outsiders, has a pretty normal life living with his two brothers, going to school living in a poor neighborhood until one event happens and changes his whole life. Ponyboy is in a gang of people who are called Greasers (which is basically a hood) with his brothers and four other members. One of these members is a boy named Johnny, who Ponyboy is closest to. The Socs(the Greasers enemy gang) like to jump and threaten them. Johnny does something terrible that results in him and Ponyboy having to run away. Everybody worries about them while they are gone with only Dally(one
Ponyboy doesn’t act like any regular greaser who is tough and likes to pick fights. Ponyboy cares about other people and will do things to benefit others. “I didn’t know what he was talking about, so I just went on picking up the glass from the bottle end and put it in the trash can. I didn’t want anyone to get a flat tire.” (pg. 172) Instead of leaving the
Typically, greasers are depicted as people similar to hoods, as Ponyboy states, "Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while" (Hinton 4). Yet, even though Ponyboy is a greaser, he avoids getting into trouble for the sake of staying together with his family. He explains that, "I don't mean I do things like that... Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us get to stay together only as long as we behave. So Soda and I stay out of trouble as much as we can, and we're careful not to get caught when we can't" (Hinton 4). Alternatively, Pony also enjoys activities such as reading and watching movies. Even simpler things, such as sunsets and clouds, are something he found beauty and enjoyment in. This sets him apart from the greasers because according to Pony, he states that, "And nobody in our gang digs movies and books the way I do" (Hinton 3). Since nobody other than Ponyboy himself shares the enjoyment of these particular pastimes, which is drastically different from pursuits such as shoplifting and fighting in rumbles, Ponyboy is divergent from the standard attributes of the greasers. Therefore, Ponyboy is a thoughtful and dreamy individual who holds different interests and aspirations than the