There are many dishonorable people in the world, can there be any honor amongst them? The greasers are a gang of teens/adults that cause trouble everywhere they go. Their enemy, the Socs (another gang, but a lot richer) attacked Johnny and Ponyboy. Johnny used a blade to kill one of the Soc. Ponyboy,Johnny,and Dally were afraid of getting in a lot of trouble, so they escaped from the authorities. While they were hiding, a church containing kids caught on fire. Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dally rescued all the kids and were considered as heros. But that came at a cost, Johnny died of injuries, and Dally suicided because of Johnny’s death. After analyzing the story The Outsiders,I strongly believe that there can be such thing as honor amongst the lawless. …show more content…
The character Ponyboy is a lawless character who’s an truly an honorable in the story.
The first reason he’s honorable is because of his quote, ”Forget about our lives, we gotta save the children” (Hinton,92) This shows that Ponyboy puts lives of others in front of his which is an honorable thing to do. The quote also shows that he cares for people he has no relationship with. The second reason Ponyboy is an honorable is because of his quote, “You take up for your buddies no matter what they do” (Hinton, 26). This shows that he cares about the greasers even though they do bad things from time to time. People who care for others are usually honorable. In conclusion, I strongly believe Ponyboy is an honorable
character. I believe that Johnny is an honorable character even among the lawless. The first reason he is honorable is because of this quote, “Shut up! We’re going to get you out!” (Hinton, 154). This shows he’s honorable because he’s desperate about getting the children back to safety. The second reason Johnny is an honorable character is because of his quote, “I don’t want anyone to get a flat tire” (Hinton, 172). This shows he’s honorable because he respects society around him. A person who respects others respect themselves which is key to being honorable. Overall, Johnny has honor even if he’s lawless. Dally is an honorable character. The first reason he is honorable is because of his quote, “For Pete’s sake, get outta there!” (Hinton, 93). This shows that Dally is worried about his friends safety, which is honorable. This also shows that cares about Johnny and Ponyboy. The second reason Dally is an honorable character is because of his other quote, “ Oh, damnit, Johnny, don’t die, please don’t die. . .” (Hinton, 149). Dally is feeling uncontrolling mad/sad because the death of his friend. This shows he has compassion under his lawless heart. Even though Dally is a lawless person, he cares about his friends and also helped save kids from the burning church which makes him an honorable character. It is very much possible for a lawless person to be honorable. Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally are examples of lawless people who break the law from time to time and are honorable at the same time. The three of them risked their lives for the better of the children in the church. Yet they did break the law and fight with others. Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally may be exceptionally honorable and lawless, but other types of people may be one or the other.
Ponyboy was a bad kid, he fought against Socs and he even smoked a weed, which is a cigarette. Later on he got into worse trouble and had to hide. He wanted to change and be a different person. While he hid he was scared and frightened and was beginning to think of how he was doing in life, and his thoughts were not very well. After the church incident, he began to change a little.
He is smart, and gets good grades in school. This is purposefully mentioned several times within the story, and people tend to be surprised to learn that he is a Greaser. In addition, some Greasers are nicer than people tend to think. When the church burned down, Ponyboy and Johnny run in to save the children without a second thought. They acted with selflessness, putting the safety of the children above their own. In the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Ponyboy is asked if he and Johnny are "professional heroes". He responds by telling the entire story of how they're Greasers and Johnny is wanted for murder, shocking the man in the ambulance. It is difficult for him to believe that a group of Greasers would do something so heroic. Johnny dies as a direct result of their actions, but neither Ponyboy nor Johnny regretted what they
Showing that Ponyboy was very inexperienced and thought Mickey Mouse Sodas horse was just like Soda and they were brothers.Thirdly, we see how some actions Ponyboy’s gang does help show the need for childhood innocence like when pony says,” Darrel, who we call Darry, works too long and hard to be interested in a story or drawing a picture,” (Hinton 3). Darry is only 20 and he has a job working on roofs he works so hard so he can care for his brothers Soda and Ponyboy he has no time to be a kid himself he is working like a man when he is only a child.While some believe the main theme is brotherly love I argue its preserving childhood innocence. While this is a good point, because Ponyboy’s group definitely sticks up for one another in a brotherly fashion, it lays a strong foundation for preserving childhood innocence. Jonny had never been a coward he was a good man in a rumble, (Hinton 34) this shows how has Johnny loses his innocence, he becomes fearful of the Soc’s and begins to carry a switchblade to keep his gang safe, you might think this shows brotherly love, but it also shows preserving childhood innocence because when Johnny got used to being targeted by the Soc’s he lost his innocence, that’s why he would carry stuff like switch blades to keep him and others safe from the Soc’s. While the Greasers grew up they lost more and more of their innocence to rumbles and hatred of the Soc’s.
When living sometimes we are faced with difficult decisions that affect our friendships. If you knew you were in a jam, what would you do? Who would you run to? Despite the greasers’ reputation as heartless young criminals, they live by a specific code of friendship and honour. In the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, there are many instances in which the gang members make selfless choices by putting the needs of others ahead of their own. Three examples are, when the gang has each other’s back, Johnny and Ponyboy’s friendship, and Dally risking his life for Johnny.
People should have a conversation with someone and get to know them before judging them. Ponyboy changed the way he thought of the Socs. At first he thought of the Socs as thugs who enjoy jumping Greasers. He later learned that Socs have problems that Greasers don’t know of and not all Socs hate Greasers.
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
He knows that Ponyboy has a chance because he is very smart. How they both reacted to not having parents shaped and effected who they are. “Johnny was high-strung anyway, a nervous wreck from getting belted every time he turned around and from hearing his parents fight all the time(2).” This explains how Johnny was effected by his parents. His parents constantly fighting and beating him made him who he was. A part of him was effected by all the chaos and pain he had to go through every day. “We're poorer than the Socs and the middle class. I reckon we're wilder, too. Not like the Socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next. 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. I don't mean I do things like that. Darry would kill me if I got into trouble with the police.” Social roles are a part of self-image that makes a person who they are. In the novel Ponyboy explains the groups that the Greasers and Sochs were split into. This
Ponyboy Curtis struggles growing up as a poor youth with his two brothers. One night while he is out with Johnny, Ponyboy is attacked by the Socs. Johnny ends up killing one of the Socs. They both flee from the scene before the news gets out. They are caught in a fire and Johnny and Ponyboy become heroes for saving some children. The story has a tragic end for Johnny but Ponyboy realises that he is fortunate, having family and friends that love him
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
Every story I’ve ever read has had characters. When there’s characters, there are ones that are stronger and more memorable than others. This quarter, the three characters I’ve found strongest and memorable are Ponyboy Curtis, Dallas “Dally” Winston, and Johnny Cade.
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
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
This definition of hero fits Ponyboy precisely, as he is different from everyone else. Ponyboy is a very unique individual and he is different from the rest of the Greasers in the gang. Ponyboy is very sensitive and has never approved of fighting, he only does it to gain approval from the gang. Ponyboy puts his own life at risk to save some kids lives in burning church, “I picked up a kid, and he promptly bit me, but I leaned out, the window and dropped him as gently as I could, being in a hurry like that. A crowd was there by that time. Dally was standing there, and when he saw me he screamed, ‘For Pete's sake, get outa there! That roofs gonna cave in any minute. Forget those blasted kids!’ “ (79). This shows that Ponyboy would go into a burning church, risking his own life to save the lives of a few little kids. He understands that Johnny and himself started the fire so he somewhat feels responsible for it. Ponyboy quickly runs into the church and saves the kids with the help of Johnny. They get all the kids out safely but, they are also injured in the process. This shows how he sets an example to those around him, He could “set up blazing torches” for people to follow him in his good deeds. It is likely that he even displayed a good example for the kids that he rescued from the church. Ponyboy knew that after
In particular, Dally was dishonorable when he robbed the grocery store and got himself in trouble.”He robbed the grocery store and the cops are after him” (152). Because he robbed the store it caused the police to chase after him and he had a gun without bullets which made the cops have to shoot which means he’s responsible for his own death. Since he caused his own death he made a lot of people sad. He basically robbed a grocery store to hurt himself but he didn't realize that he would hurt his gang. Thus, him stealing caused him to die which caused pain upon others and that was very
Ponyboy is a hero because when he saw the church on fire he thought he started but he still went to go save the children inside the church. Ponyboy is one of the main characters in the book who is a hero that I know he is. Ponyboy is a hero because he tried to save Johnny when and Johnny was in trouble trying to save the children from the burning church. Ponyboy showed bravery when he said ‘’I picked up a kid and he promptly bite me but I leaned out the window and dropped him as gently as I could being in a hurry like that’’ (79). By Ponyboy picking up the child that showed Ponyboy is a true hero. Pony is a true hero to save those kid in the burning church. When Pony said, “ I snatched up another kid hoping he didn’t bite me but I leaned out the window and dropped him as gently as I could being in a hurry like that”.(pg.79) By Ponyboy getting that child he saved him from danger.