Eng III - the Effects of Gang Violence

+Nigel Graves

Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Morris

English III

June 4, 2011

The Effects of Gang Violence

A wise person once said "The streets can define you and bring you a bad reputation, but what's learned from your wrong doing will make stronger and wiser individuals." The outsider is a coming - of - age novel based in 1965 and taking place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The author is S.E. Hinton who soon inspired a movie based upon her book, adapted in 1983.

"Sixteen years in the streets and you can learn a lot. But all the wrong things, not the things you want to learn." Many people are categorized by the clothes they wear, people they hang out with maybe even the music listened to. In reality no one should be judged unless you know them and understand why they do what they do. Ponyboy is a greaser who gets good grades, likes to draw, read and plays football. But because he considers himself a greaser others think of him as being a bad person. On the other hand Darry who is the brother to ponyboy is also seen as mean person. No one knows what Darry has been trough to understand why he does what he does. His parents died in a car crash which left him to raise his two younger brother ponyboy and soda pop. He was a good student but was forced to work two jobs to support his family. On his free time hanging out with the greasers relieves the stress of having to take care and provide for the family. "What kind of world is it where all I have to be proud of is a reputation for being a hood, and greasy hair?"

There are some who think they have to do certain things to fit in. Always be aware of what others will perceive you as. Not everyone will like everyone but there's a difference in letting people judge you to the point of changing. What's happening is being aware of how one looks to others. Cherry who is considered a social because of her boyfriend, is a very sweet girl. Quoted "So Cherry Valance, the cheerleader, bobs girl, the soc, was trying to help us. No, it was Cherry the dreamer who watched sunsets and couldn't stand fights." When people allow others to influence them and change their lives, things may end up not how planned. Keep your friends closer and your enemies closer. A true friend will be by there friends side during their good deeds and during the bad. A true friend will never let their friend down no matter what the circumstances may be. Johnny who is a friend of Pony Boy is a true friend. Johnny took up for Pony Boy when David a social was attempting to drown Pony Boy. Johnny defended him no matter the consequence by stabbing and killing David to save Pony Boys life. Johnny states "I had to they were drowning you Pony. They might have killed you."

Pony