A 1960’s, well known novel, ‘The Outsiders’ written by S.E Hinton is based on two rival gangs; the Socs and the Greasers who, throughout the novel, experience a change in values, beliefs and behaviour. This expression shows that most young people in society change and that change is something that will constantly happen. Through this, Hinton has focused on three main characters, all proving how they have changed throughout the novel. This is shown more specifically through Ponyboy, Randy and Dally. Through the novel, Ponyboy Curtis, the main protagonist and the youngest member of the Greaser gang, changes his beliefs. Ponyboy believes as though the Socials are rich and have plenty of money to solve their problems. He believes as though the Socials don’t have problems and even if they did, money would solve it for them. When progressing through the novel Cherry, a Soc, makes Ponyboy realise that the world isn’t just about Greasers having problems and that they, as Socials, have plenty of …show more content…
Shown from the start of the novel, Dally was described as the ‘real character’ of the gang. He was tougher, colder and meaner than the rest. Although during the incident of the burning church, Darry’s character changed and showed that he had feeling as well. This was proved when Dally, jumps inside the burning church to save the children as well as Ponyboy and Johnny. When that news came out on the newspaper, it had so many people shock as well as the Social and if they hadn’t seen it for their own eyes, “[they]would have never believed a Greaser could pull something like that.” Through this, it was proven that Dally had realised how much little things matted in life and that despite being a hero, it was also important to make sure others were okay. Hinton has proved how Dally has changed in his beliefs as well as his
Sherry Valance, a 16 year-old Soc, who goes by the name Cherry, influenced Ponyboy not just a little, but caused him to ponder about the meaning behind all the rivalry between the Socs and the Greasers. Hate between the Socs, the rich kids of the west side, and the Greasers, the poor kids from the east side, has always existed. Beforehand, Ponyboy greatly disliked the Socs, for they continually jumped and attacked Greasers. He always regarded them as an enemy. However, that one night when Ponyboy Curtis clashed with Sherry Valance, she demonstrated that not all Socs were malevolent and self-centered. While conversing with Cherry, Ponyboy felt her empathy and understanding and softened towards her. She talked about her boyfriend, Bob, and how he
Most people in the world are misunderstood at some point in their life. However, if other people’s perceptions of a person create a reputation, it can camouflage their real traits. Dallas (Dally) Winston is a victim of this. A character in the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Dally is commonly known for being a tough ruthless guy who doesn’t care about anybody but himself. He’s a great fighter and is very confident, but because of his past, it seems his real qualities have been masked. Even though Dallas Winston’s friends misunderstood him to be a cold-hearted and tough person, his experiences and how he treats his friends reveals his loving, self-reliant, and dependable nature.
“The Outsiders”, by S.E. Hinton, is centered around Ponyboy’s path to maturity and the life lessons he learns along the way. The novel follows Ponyboy, a greaser, and his gang’s conflict with the Socials, a rival gang. In it, he learns to not judge people hastily and reject gang mentality. Ponyboy also loses his innocence. The following paragraphs will explore his growth throughout “The Outsiders”.
Thesis: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, a novel which tells the story of conflict between the "greasers" and the "Socs," captures the voice of ponyboy and his friends in a realistic way that relates to boys and their gangs even today.
The difference in social class definitely took its toll on the two of these gangs. The Soc’s and Greaser’s opinion would change from with experiences, but for the most part it was a clash for who owned the town. The Socs were the “good guys” and the Greasers were the “troublemakers” of town, although this was definitely not the case but because of the unchanging prejudice opinions were placed on both of the groups it would not change. For example, Ponyboy explained that maybe the Greasers and Socs aren’t so different after all. On page 40, Ponyboy starts to wonder how different he is from any of the Socs, “It seemed funny to me that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from the back steps was the
Have you ever wondered how the 1960’s was like? Would you have been fearful, jovial, or melancholy? In the book, The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton the main character Ponyboy Curtis lives with his two brothers, Sodapop and Darry, and is involved in a gang called the “greasers.” Ponyboy realizes what it is to be a kind person instead of being violent, he is always on top of his studies and is very observant of others.
Most people strive to belong, to be someone or part of something important. People all around you experience different ways of belonging, such as cliques or social class. Others who are excluded, are simply left as outsiders, forced to make up their own groups, maybe just because of where they live, how much money they have, and the items they have and do not have. This is the case in author S.E. Hinton’s prominent novel The Outsiders. Within this well known book is a 2 week story of 14 year old Ponyboy, as he learns to mature in his rough, poor, East side neighborhood while also dealing with most of the rich, stuck up, West side kids known as the Socs. To rival the Socs are the Greasers, a tight-knit gang that includes many East side teens that have become almost like brothers to each other. Throughout this novel, Ponyboy learns many life lessons, while facing multiple obstacles and overcoming his own inner problems to finally realize a bigger picture in the end. S.E. Hinton focused deeply on symbolism to display these multiple themes.
Survival instincts allow individuals to persevere during times of hardship and struggle. Unfortunately, many families in America are struggling lower-middle class or live in poverty. It’s nice to think a person can easily go from being dirt poor to filthy rich, but it doesn’t usually work that way. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton depicts the hardships and struggles experienced by two rival gangs, “The Greasers” from the lower middle class and “The Socs” from the upper class. Thesis: In The Outsiders, the Greasers experience disenfranchisement mostly due to socioeconomic class and appearance. However, other types of disenfranchisement such as drug, alcohol use and gang participation are also present in the novel.
Have you ever thought about what it might be like to be an outsider? The Outsiders is a story written by S.E. Hinton, in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the Mid 1960s. All of the characters involved in this story are in a stereotypical conflict between the rich and poor, the Socs and the Greasers. One central and essential character in this story is Ponyboy. Ponyboy is a character who is at a young age, starting to grow up and is finally starting to realize what life is really about. The protagonist of this story gets into some trouble as he and his friend Johnny kill a Socs and are running away from home. Just as they thought they were going to get caught for murder, they end up being heroes by saving eight kids’ life from a burning church. By doing that, Pony lost some of his close friends. At the end of the story, Ponyboy realizes that life is not about being a Greaser or a Soc. Emotions are the only thing separating the two gangs. He is a round character as he has many different sides to his personality and a dynamic character as he grows up throughout the novel. Foreshadowing happens when Ponyboy has a dream about a funeral going on; just a little while after that Pony lost two close friends, Johnny and Dally. An internal conflict happens to most of the characters, Pony’s internal conflict is that he does not know if his brother Darry loves him or not. Smart, scared, and sensitive are three words that describe Ponyboy.
In the 1960’s, many people were placed into categories. The main protagonist in The Outsiders is a young boy named Ponyboy, who has had a rough life and gone through traumatic events. In the book, The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton uses the actions and attitude of Ponyboy to reflect the turmoil of the 1960’s.
In the beginning, he thinks all the Socs are without heart and the only thing they have is money. For instance, when Ponyboy was walking home alone, he said: “Not like the Socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks…” (page 4 paragraph 2). Clearly, this shows he stereotypes the Socs and his view on them are the same as everyone in his gang. He was taught that all the Socs does things that the Greasers would never think of. He doesn’t understand that same group can have different people and he shouldn’t judge people by their group. Although, after meeting Cherry Valance he understands that different groups can have similarities. For instance, when Ponyboy and Cherry were walking to the car and Cherry said to Ponyboy, “Things are rough all over.” (pg. 31 paragraph 5). In short, after meeting Cherry he understood that even if a person is rich, they could have problems too. He understood that money doesn’t solve all the problems. Ponyboy understood even though they thought they lived in two different worlds but it wasn’t that different. Ponyboy realized there are many similarities more than differences between the Greasers and Socs and everyone in life has
‘The Outsiders’ by S.E Hinton was written in the 1960’s, a time of rebels and outlaws. The novel follows the story of two rival gangs, the Socs and the Greasers. The Socs are rich and powerful but feel no emotion; they are cool to the point of not feeling anymore while the Greasers are in poverty and are often shunned by society,but they have a passion for life, the exact opposite of the Socs. The story also discusses the loss of innocence in the main character, Ponyboy Curtis, a young teen in the 1960’s. Throughout the story he is subjected to many forms of corruption to make him lose his childhood innocence and make him cold and hard. Hinton explains this message to us through the use of a poem by Robert Frost ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay ‘
In the novel “Outsiders” by S.E Hinton, Johnny Cade a timid young boy referred to “the gang’s pet” transforms into a gallant young adult. This book shows the transition among a young boy that was neglected and beaten by his parents weekly and the struggles between the “Greasers” and the “Socs”. The development from Johnny, an afraid adolescent into a confident boy is stunning.
In the book The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, the main character, Ponyboy, experiences the effect that stereotypes have on “Socs” and “Greasers”. Ponyboy is trying to find his place in the world, but is interrupted by the labels that society gives him. The Socs make the Greasers’ situation worse,by being a constant danger to the Greasers. There are three topics addressed in the powerful novel. The fight between the rich and the poor, the power of friendship, and what it means to be a hero.
The Outsiders Essay Lots of people change throughout their life as they get older. In S.E. Hinton's " The Outsiders" three characters changed: Cherry Valence, Ponyboy Curtis, and Johnny Cade all changed their life for the better. Ponyboy Curtis changed because he wanted to live up to Johnny's memory. When Johnny dies he gives Ponyboy some advice. Johnny tells Ponyboy To Stay Golden" which means to stay brave and confident then nobody will touch you.