Uses In S. E. Hinton's 'The Outsiders'

In the novel The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, is about the rivalry between the greasers and the socials (socs). The separation of the greasers is tough and the tension of the greasers and the socs causes many problems throughout the novel. In the novel The Outsiders written by S.E Hinton includes various themes, like one major one, stereotypes, the greasers and socs. Also the noel has many motifs throughout the novel. A important motif in The Outsiders is the saying “Stay Gold” .

I wholeheartedly endorse what Cottom calls “The Logic of Stupid Poor People”, that poor people buy status symbols to survive in this world. She demonstrates that, as a middle class black girl, her family had a way of turning the tables in their favor in multiple aspects in order to supply their needs and wants. Poor people buy expensive items, sometimes depriving themselves of their other needs, just for the respect of others. These items are 21st-century status symbols, they can single-handedly determine the fate of your everyday encounters. The author uses personal experiences to support her argument, persuasively changing your entire perspective and broadening your mind to another individual’s lifestyle.

Have you ever wondered what life is like for people in specific social classes and all the baggage that comes with being wealthy? In the article “Amber Waves of Green”, author Jon Ronson has sit downs with hard working americans making a income of $200 a week all the way up to $625,000 a week. In another writing titled “The Mansion”, written by Michael Lewis, allows the reader to get insight on what life is like as a middle class individual taking on a higher style of living. Within the two articles the reader can point out that both Jon Ronson and Michael Lewis disagree on living styles, what wealth can do for you, and how it can affect the people around you.

A main example in the story is when Ponyboy said that he would have been more comfortable talking to the girls had they not been Socs and held a higher class than him, if they were Greaser girls then perhaps he would have formed a relationship with them but since they weren't he was held back. (Hinton 21). Ponyboy was apprehensive to form a relationship with anyone who was in a different class than him. As an example Ponyboy exclaimed, "Do you think that your spying for us makes up for the fact that you're sitting there in a Corvette while my brother drops out of high school to get a job? Don't you ever try to give us handouts and then feel high and mighty about it." (Hinton 98) He is envious because those who have more money than him get nearly anything they want while his clique had to work much harder to achieve anything. Similarly, it is stated that “‘It ain't fair!’ I cried passionately. ‘It ain't fair that we have all the rough breaks!’” (Hinton 43) Again, he is placing the blame for him not having as much in life on those who were given

Designer clothing, luxury cars, flashy handbags. These are just a few of the status symbols that differentiate the rich from the poor. These items are often used to determine the who’s who in today’s society by showing off wealth and status. Although others should not be based solely on their income, this judgement is sadly commonplace. The rich and the poor are segregated both by accident and on purpose in many situations and the lower class is the one that deals with the brunt of that discrimination.

Ponyboy Curtis in the fourteen-year-old boy that explains the story in both the book and the movie, and also the youngest of the greasers. Ponyboy is very intelligent compared to the rest of the gang he is most defenatly the smartest to them all. Because his parents have died in a car accident, Ponyboy lives with his two brothers Darry and Sodapop in both the book and movie. Darry repeatedly accuses Ponyboy of lacking common sense in the book more so then in the movie, but Ponyboy is a much brighter then his brother takes him for. Throughout the novel, Ponyboy struggles with class division, violence, innocence, and familial love but in the movie they dont focus on his school as much. He matures over the course of the book and the movie both.

We may want to judge these characters for reaching for an unattainable goal, but it is important to consider what other choices the had. In American society, the wealth inequality is massive, and it has drastic effects on the lifestyles of people in the different classes. This text isn’t meant to criticize those who want to be in a higher class, but it is meant to call out the corruption in American society and the impossibility of the American Dream. I believe that this text should be able to help people of the upper classes see people of lower classes in a different light. Many people of the upper class are prejudiced against people in a lower class. They may write them off as undeserving or lazy, but this text can help gain a personal insight into the lives of some of those people. This text shows how unfair the system of wealth is in America, and it should help members of the upper class develop sympathy for those without the same privileges as

Everyone has something that defines and shows who they really are. What they have that symbolizes who they are is their pride and means everything to them. If that was taken away from them, then they wouldn’t have anything to be proud of. There wouldn’t be anything to define who they truly are. There wouldn’t be that special thing about them. Throughout The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, the author uses symbolism to define the Socs and Greaser because it shows that it is believed that they are completely different, but that is shown to be untrue. The symbolism helps to show the differences and similarities between the Greasers and Socs. The author uses the Greaser’s hair to show what makes them feel like a Greaser, and separate from the Socs. The

Ponyboy, Johnny, Sodapop, Darry are all a part of the unruly gang, the Greasers. S.E Hinton is writing these characters as rebellious young men, with a harsh background, who takes their anger and hardship out on gang fighting. These roles play an important part in this book because it shows that even though they nothing physically, they have a heart stronger than gold for each other and others mentally. Hinton use these characters to show prejudice leads to wrong conclusions, violence and oppression because these “poor” young men are getting beat up by the rich Socs who have never felt the feeling of being in poverty. “ You take up for your buddies, no matter what they do. When you’re in a gang, you stick up for the members. If you don’t stick up for them, stick together, make

Ponyboy Curtis has lived a very rough life. Both his parents died, leaving him, Sodapop and Darry to take care of each other. Darry had to get a job and stop going to school; he looked out for his brothers the same as their father figure which they had lost. Sodapop stopped going to school because he felt that he was too stupid, as for Ponyboy he had to stay in school and always bring home good grades. The three brothers still have to look out for each other and stay out of trouble as much as possible. In the church, he starts talking about a poem and doesn’t know exactly what it means. Each line can be compared to his life, past, and current experiences, along with his

Money will not always be there for you, but your family and friends will be. According to society, being in the upper class, you have to have money, nice clothes, and a nice house. To be in the middle class, you have to have some money, some nice clothes, and a good-looking house. To be in the lower class, you have to have little money, not very many clothes, and a house that is not in good condition. American society does not put people’s personalities and characteristics into consideration. American society puts people’s physical features and wealth into hand.

fact he was mad. If he was mad, it was a pity, however if he had

It is apparent throughout the movie that Ponyboy struggles with his identity. After his parents had passed away, his older brother, Darrel, became the parental figure for Ponyboy and his other brother, Sodapop. Ponyboy had felt that Darrel didn’t like him anymore and feels that Darrel blames

Ponyboy Curtis - The novel's fourteen-year-old narrator and protagonist, and the youngest of the greasers. Ponyboy's literary interests and academic accomplishments set him apart from the rest of his gang. Because his parents have died in a car accident, Ponyboy lives with his brothers Darry and Sodapop. Darry repeatedly accuses Ponyboy of lacking common sense, but Ponyboy is a reliable and observant narrator. Throughout the novel, Ponyboy struggles with class division, violence, innocence, and familial love. He matures over the course of the novel, eventually realizing the importance of strength in the face of class bias.

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.