Coming Of Age In The Outsiders And The Fifth Wave

Have you ever asked yourself what experiences have guided you to maturity? S.E. Hinton’s “coming of age” novel The Outsiders, was published in 1967 and is set in the 1960’s Southern United States. The book is about a boy named Ponyboy, who gradually reaches maturity. As well as reaching maturity, Ponyboy has to deal with social differences too. In the novel, the last chapters show that Ponyboy is growing up and becoming more mature.

Johnny killed Bob to save Ponyboy from drowning. Ponyboy and Johnny ran away from home because Darry hit Ponyboy because he fell asleep in the lot. When Ponyboy and Johnny went to the park, the Socs went to the same park that they were at. The Socs were drunk, and they were also mad because earlier Ponyboy and Johnny were walking with Cherry and Marcia, and the Socs saw them and they got mad. So, when the Socs saw Ponyboy and Johnny at the park they wanted to fight them because they were mad that Pony and Johnny were hanging out with Cherry and Marcia. When Pony and Johnny started to run away the Socs caught them and they started to beat them up. When the Socs that were beating up Johnny walked away, Johnny grabbed his switchblade out of his back pocket and he went over to Bob and he started to stab him, when he stabbed Bob, the rest of the Socs ran away. As you can see Johnny is not just a murderer, he is also a hero because he saved Ponyboy from drowning. Johnny is a hero because of his heroic acts, also when Dally

He sacrifices himself to save his friends and innocent children, and also shows no regret for it, despite losing his own life, shown in his dialogue ‘It’s worth saving those kids, their lives are worth more than ours’ (page 216) This demonstrates that he no longer fears death and that he feels that his life was not wasted because he saved the children. Johnny also ran into the church with Ponyboy, demonstrating that he would do anything at the side of his friends. This helps the reader to understand many of the key themes in the novels, as it shows that the bond that the gang shares is stronger than any other bond they

I do not believe that age has anything to do with maturity. I believe that the experiences someone has makes them mature;in addition, I also believe that what a person has been through has a lot to do with it.

Dally gets in dangerous fights and slashes tires knowing if he will get beat up or caught it's not like his parents will care. Dally thinks there's no good in the world and will not care if he goes to jail. Ponyboy thinks “You blasted fool. They don't know you’re only bluffing. And even as the policemen's guns spit fire into the night i knew that was what Dally wanted”(154). By Dally wanting to get killed, he is putting little value on his live. Likewise Dally, Johnny also puts little value on his live. Johnny wants to turn himself in when he kills the soc because he knows if he does it won't matter, because he thinks no one would be worrying about him. Johnny writes in his letter to Ponyboy “ Listen, i don't mind dying now. It's worth it. It's worth saving those kids. Their lives are worth more than mine”(178). By Johnny saying there lives are worth more than mine means that he doesn't place value on his live as he doesn't mind dying. In the end Johnny and Dally place little value on their lives.

Since the first spark of human life, coming-of-age has even occurred at the time of Adam and Eve. Many people think that the only part of maturing is puberty. However, one of the greatest parts of growing up is not, surprisingly, going through puberty. Coming-of-age involves recognizing different perspectives.

If society was asked what defines “coming of age,” what would it say? Some would say people come of age when they act more mature, think grown up thoughts, or do certain actions. This quote by someone unknown helps form an explanation of what coming of age is: “Maturity doesn’t mean age; it means sensitivity, manners, and how you react.” In the literature piece “The First Part Last,” the author Angela Johnson writes about two teenagers, Bobby and Nia, who struggle with the difficulties of teen pregnancy. Throughout the book, they both face many hardships that put their relationship, patience, and responsibility to the test. With the help of a red balloon, a basketball, and family pictures in a doctor’s office, Bobby comes of age after paying attention to these symbols and signs throughout the novel.

When coming-of-age a person will be continually experiencing, and learning new things. As this happens that person will develop and gain new perspectives on life and the world around them. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is found gaining new perspectives while she comes-of-age. In David Dobbs’ article “Beautiful Brains”, he shows and explains how gaining new perspectives is a part of coming-of-age. Developing different perspectives is really what coming-of-age is all about. It causes an individual to see the world in a new light, which widens their knowledge and helps them to fully come-of-age and grow

“I do believe in the old saying, 'What does not kill you makes you stronger.' Our experiences, good and bad, make us who we are. By overcoming difficulties, we gain strength and maturity” (Angelina Jolie). Coming of age is when a person makes a transition in some way from being a child to becoming an adult. Two components that are found in coming of age are changes in the perspective of parents and when a person experiences loss.

To come of age is to arise to a level where one can propose or make decisions without the need of someone else of mature status. It may come earlier to some than others, it might come later than average, but it all depends on what factor you base coming of age to be on.

Ponyboy said he would be dead if he didn't have the gang members. Johnny is the youngest in the gang. He was jumped by Socs and was seriously injured that he almost died. He had psychology impact on the Socs, he would shiver and be frighten whenever he sees a Soc. On the day he left with Ponyboy, they met a group of Socs. Since the Soc called Bob almost drowned Ponyboy to death, he killed Bob. Johnny admired Dally a lot. He wishes Dally could be proud of him for even just once. He wanted to be as tough and cool as Dally but he never succeeds. Johnny was kicked out of school and that was how Ponyboy thought he wasn't clever. Sometimes Johnny understood things better than Ponyboy in the book which was called Gone with the Wind. Johnny had the interest and talent in reading books but no one in the gang except Ponyboy was good enough to talk about these. He wasn't really close with Ponyboy before they ran away together so they didn't have a talk. Johnny also loved to watch sunsets and sunrises but no one in the gang could have spared time to watch or even talk about this. All Johnny couldn't express mad him alienated from the gang members. The only one he was close to was Dally. Dally cared for his all time and would risk his life for whatever happens on Johnny. Such as lending a gun or killing a Soc. Dally wouldn't hesitate as long as it was for

The novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is an obvious example of the struggles of coping with life and maturity. The novel is mainly about two small groups (the socials and the greasers) and the physical and emotional battles between them. The book follows Ponyboy and his small gang which consists of 7 boys; Sodapop and Darrel, Ponyboy's brothers, Johnny, Ponyboy's best friend, Dallas, the worst member of the gang (worst in the sense that he breaks law for fun and gets into the most trouble), Keith/ Two-Bit, the joker of the group, and Steve, Sodapops longtime best friend. Certain members of this gang are showing obvious signs that maturing is difficult, such as Ponyboy acting tough around people but in his thoughts and small indications we can see he is not the same Pony. Another obvious sign is that the entire Curtis family (Ponyboy, Sodapop, Darrel) seems to act older and more mature than really are. The most prominent form of Pony specifically is that he is completely different at the beginning then he is at the end of the book.

In The Outsiders, Johnny and Darry find themselves struggling with the stereotype society has labeled them with. While in the park, Johnny and his friend Ponyboy are jumped by five Socs. Unexpectedly, Johnny stands up for himself and protects his friend. On page 56, the text states, “‘I killed him,’ he said slowly. ‘I killed that boy’. Bob the handsome Soc, was lying there in the moonlight, doubled up and still.” This demonstrates that although Johnny is considered a timid and innocent person, he proves that how he acts in the gang is different from how he acts in the outside world. This is unexpected because Johnny is always the one being cared for in the gang. However, he protected his friend by killing someone. Johnny’s actions prove that our assumptions about others are wrong. This matters because society needs to realize that based on stereotypes, we incorrectly judge others before getting to know them. Johnny is a clear example of what happens when one is judged based on assumptions. Another example of this theme is reflected when Darry breaks down at a hospital after finding out that his younger brother, Ponyboy, is going to be okay. On pages 98-99, the text states, “‘Darry,

“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.” Moliere, a famous author of the 17th century, explains that obstacles that stand in a person's way can make them stronger. This happens because overcoming an obstacle can make a person gain something and grow during the experience. This is one way a person can come of age. Coming of age is when someone grows mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Coming of age mentally is when someone grows in their state of mind. Coming of age emotionally is when someone grows in their feelings, or in a relationship. Coming of age spiritually is when someone grows in their beliefs. This growth happens both in real life and in literature. There are many ways for a person or character to come of age

Coming of age is our minds and bodies evolving into a more mature person. It isn’t based off age, but more of experience and knowledge. Most of the time, coming of age is more profound in the young due to the transition from childhood to adulthood. During this transition, they have their first experience of