Changing Identity In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

Understanding identity is not as easy as some people think. In the average lifespan of 71 years, numerous events can impact the outcome of of an individual’s life. Choices, religion, and many external factors can greatly influence a human and his or her identity. Some people believe that feelings can and do determine your identity, so they do whatever they feel is correct. However, this is false. Identity is very strongly influenced by the events, objects, and people around. It is mostly influenced by external factors. In The Outsiders, Ponyboy is, without a doubt, incredibly influenced by the external factors around him, such as Sherry Valance, the rumble between the Socs and the Greasers, and when his best friend passes away.

makes your identity, shapes our identity It is what defines a person and how people see that

This identity is constantly being personally refined and reshaped. By having the understanding of where they come from, trying new things and being told that they aren’t good enough, and admittedly sometimes making the wrong choices, people must create their identity from scratch. All of the pieces of literature mentioned each show a different way identity can be made by someone. This proves that it is impossible to be born with life already planned out and that there is a journey to finding a true identity. And with the words of Thomas Merton, “identity is much more than the name or features one is born with… Identity means having ideas and values one lives by.”

The author made the specific choice of shifting the time that the different events take place to highlight the idea that one’s identity fluctuates. Because the events go from as far back as six years ago to the present, the author further

The Outsiders is the first book that the author S.E Hinton wrote. The story follows a group of people called the greasers since they live on the east side of town in Oklahoma, and they dress like your typical 1960’s gang with the slicked back hair and leather jackets the main character Ponyboy’s gang consists of his brothers Darry and Sodapop. The rest of the gang consists of Steve, Two-bit, Johnny and Dally. Their enemy in the story is the Socs or their full name the socials. The Socs are the rich kids that live on the west side and drive the expensive cars and clothing. In the novel the greasers go through a lot of events, especially Ponyboy which makes me believe he has changed the most throughout the book, and here is how I was able to analyze him.

Identity is what makes a person unique. It is the soul and the essence of a human being. People are not born with a fixed identity. Identity is inherently dynamic; it changes and evolves over time. A person’s identity is ultimately shaped by their decisions. My identity is different from those who surround me. I create my own identity.

Identity is a group of characteristics, data or information that belongs exactly to one person or a group of people and that make it possible to establish differences between them. The consciousness that people have about themselves is part of their identity as well as what makes them unique. According to psychologists, identity is a consistent definition of one’s self as a unique individual, in terms of role, attitudes, beliefs and aspirations. Identity tries to define who people are, what they are, where they go or what they want to be or to do. Identity could depend on self-knowledge, self-esteem, or the ability of individuals to achieve their goals. Through self-analysis people can define who they are and who the people around them

As a person goes through their life, they encounter many choices and options. The most obvious ones are what they will wear, eat, or do for each day of their life. Everything that they do, even the most simple decisions, can and will impact them and who they are as a person. This will become a part of their identity. However, as the social beings humans are, their identities can be effected by those around them, virtually and physically. Most especially, every person’s identity is affected by the opinions and thoughts of others which can be expressed online, through verbal comments, and body language. This causes each person to question themselves and attempt to view themselves from the eyes of others. And when people question their identities

Despite the fact that being valid to oneself identity, individuals act in an unexpected way, contingent upon the circumstances at hand.

Identity can be created through how one sees himself/ herself. An example can be found in “Thumbprint”, by Eve Merriam. The author says things such as, “Mine alone”, “My own flesh, my own feelings. No other however grand or base can ever contain the same.” , “My singularity”, and “I am myself” (Merriam 1).

Outside influences have a strong capability to influence and alter our personal identity. Both directly and indirectly, the social contexts in which we live can change the way we think and feel, and by extension how we interact with other people and places. Immediate family, friendship groups and the physical environment are all factors which contribute to our ever changing perceptions of ourselves. Sometimes personal identity can be subtly reshaped over a gradual time frame, as our sense of who we are is modified without personal recognition that we are changing. At other times we may be able to notice our personal identity changing, through important life decisions.

In S.E Hinton’s novel The Outsiders, the main character Ponyboy and the rest of the greasers not only face conflicts with their rival gang: the Socs, but also against each other and even as society as a whole. These obstacles were created due the fact that people don't realize that everyone has problems, this is a theme that Ponyboy learns throughout this story. Just like in real life, some conflicts will never be resolved as they are beyond their control. Over the course of the novel some conflicts will be settled, while some will stay the same or even become worse.

My identity is influennced by how I act aroind people. I act mostly imature, goofy, annoying, and all the other things that I normally do. If i where not to act like that it would change my idenntity. There are different types of identity

Identity is what evolves us, it is what makes us think the way we do, and act the way we act, in essence, a person’s identity is their everything. Identity separates us from everyone else, and while one may be very similar to another, there is no one who is exactly like you; someone who has experienced exactly what you have, feels the way you do about subjects, and reacts the same to the events and experiences you have had. This became prevalent to me as I read through many books, that everyone goes through the process of finding who they are. A prevalent theme throughout literature is the idea that over time one develops their identity through life over time, in contrast to being born with one identity and having the same

Our identity can sometimes be shaped by the way others see us. As we have seen, the way in which others view us can have some sort of impact on how we see ourselves. There are also other contributing factors such as our years of adolescence, the basic human need of wanting to belong and maturing; all play an equally important part in the forming of our character and who we are. On balance it appears that there is not only one influence in the shaping of our identity, but there are many.