The Outsiders by S.E Hinton

Summary:

In the novel The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton, PonyBoy, the protagonist sees injustice on a day-to-day basis. Since his parents have passed away, Darry is forced to work two jobs to support his two younger brothers; Sodapop has dropped out of school, and the greasers are perceived as "white trash." The Outsiders is about a life of a fourteen-year-old boy. The novel conveys the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes he is an outsider. Ponyboy is part of a crowd who are gangsters known as the Greasers, who are poor and live on the east side of town. The Greasers are loathed by the Socs (Socials) who are known as the west side rich kids. There are constant rivalries and fighting between the two different classes in the novel. Other

members of the Greaser Gang include Johnny, Dally, Two-bit Matthews and Steve Randle.

After the Greaser's meet Cherry and Marcia two Soc girls, they get beat up by a group of Socs. Ponyboy is almost about to die in the fight but Johnny stabs one of them and the rest run away. Ponyboy and Johnny are scared and run to the countryside to hide. They hide in an abandoned church until Dallas comes to get them. Unfortunately, the church they are staying at catches on fire and some of the local children are trapped in the fire, Ponyboy and Johnny went into the fire to rescue the children. Johnny gets hurt, and they both go to the hospital. At the same time, the Greasers and Socs are planning a big rumble to settle things. The Greaser wins the big fight. Shortly after Johnny dies from his injuries in the fire and Dallas gets himself shot by the police. Ponyboy is not charged by the police for the death of the Soc. After all the trouble and challenges, the three brothers begin to grow much closer together. Ponyboy finally comes to the realization that even though there may be social classes that divide us, we are all just regular people.

Setting:

The Outsiders takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the mid-1960s. Time is significant to the novel because that was when the two classes, the Greasers and the Socs existed. This effects the story because the rivalry between the two classes motivates the characters behaviour and their decisions. “The Socs and us are having all-out warfare all over the city. “That kid you killed had plenty of friends and all over town it’s Soc against Grease”. This emphasizes how the murder of Bob causes the Socs deranged about beating the Greasers.

A significant theme in the outsiders is the utilization of colours in a high contrast world. Adolescents have a tendency to embrace individuals and occasions as "absolutes". For instance, somebody or something is either right or wrong, there is no in between. The characters in the Outsiders are either Socs or Greasers. individuals are either wealthy or poor, good or bad. Hinton engagingly utilizes colours throughout the novel to characterize and add profundity to the characters in their environment. Initially, in the novel, she connects warm colours with the Socs and cool colours with the Greasers. Warmth often is compared with inside and cool is related with outside, and the colours indicate the role of the character in society. The greasers perceive the Socs as insiders and themselves as outsiders.

Character and Conflict:

The development of the family's relationship is a repeated theme in the novel. Family relationships are usually difficult during the teenage years, but in the Curtis family, the privilege to remain together as a family is a consistent battle. Since the passing of their parents, Darry has accepted the accountability of guardianship for Ponyboy and Sodapop. Darry perceives Ponyboy's potential and has high expectations for him. Ponyboy complains that Darry is much stricter than his dad, but by the end of the novel, he realizes Darry's role. "Darry is a good guardian; he makes me study and knows where I am and who I'm with all the time...My father didn't yell at me as much as he does."

Ponyboy struggles with his expectations for Sodapop. He is self-conscious of the fact that Sodapop dropped out of school, and wants him to finish his education. Sodapop did not do well in school, disliked school and is impeccably pleased to work in a gas station, a job he loves. Sodapop trusts that he is making the best decision by supporting his family. The greaser's relationship is incorporated into the theme of family love. Ponyboy's gang members require the support and security that they attain in the gang.