Chracterization

[Sydney]

The characters who change the most are Dally an Johnny

[Divson]

Yeah, you see their character come out a lot. Especially when Dally sees Johnny die, you see his true self.

[Jenna]

I agree.
S.E Hinton develops these characters through action, and their relationships with the gang.

[Alec]

I think Darry changes also. He used to be very mean to Ponyboy and hurt him but towards the end of the book, the had a better relationship.

[Divson]

Yeah Alec, I think their relationship got better because Darry didn't want to lose Pony like he did his mom and dad (Which Darry says in the book)

[Jenna]

Alec wrote: "I think Darry changes also. He used to be very mean to Ponyboy and hurt him but towards the end of the book, the had a better relationship."

I agree with this a lot. In the beginning, Darry didn't care about how Pony felt, and was very tough on him. As the story progresses and Pony runs away, Darry realizes that he has to change. At the end, Darry finally becomes the better person that he was meant to be.

[Divson]

Jenna wrote: "Alec wrote: "I think Darry changes also. He used to be very mean to Ponyboy and hurt him but towards the end of the book, the had a better relationship."

I agree with this a lot. In the beginning,..."

I agree Jenna but I also think Darry cared the whole time, he just didn't show it.

[Jenna]

^Good point. Maybe Darry just didn't know how to express his care for Pony.

[Darren]

I agree with you Divson. Internally, Darry loved Ponyboy so much but he just didn't show it.

[CoffeyQ]

I think you see a lot from Randy when Ponyboy talks to him; just sayin y'know, it let's the reader know that there is more to Socs than rich snobs that beat up the 3rd Graders for lunch money.

Another example of this is also with Cherry and Ponyb0y

[Divson]

CoffeyQ wrote: "I think you see a lot from Randy when Ponyboy talks to him; just sayin y'know"

Yeah CoffeQ, Randy really opens up to Pony, someone who he barely knows, and Randy even says he could never say that to his buds. Why do you think that is? Does he secretly want what Johnny wanted? No Socs. or Greaser, just people? What do you guys think?

[Liam]

I also agree with Divson. But I think, Darry showed some love towards Ponyboy. He dropped out of college for him and Soda, so he could support them.

[Zach]

I agree with Divson. Although in the beginning of the book Darry was portrayed as a bad guy, he really just was being harsh since he wanted Ponyboy to suceed. Also, in the first couple of pages, it says, "Darry jammed his fists in his pockets. 'They didn't hurt you too bad, did they?'" (7). This shows that Darry truly cares about his well being. Another example is brought up when Ponyboy is thinking about his grades, and it says, "Me and Darry just didn't dig each other. I never could please him. He would have hollered at me for carrying a blade if I had carried one. If I brought home B's, he wanted A's, and if I got A's, he wanted to make sure they stayed A's. If I was playing football, I should be in studying, and if I was
reading, I should be out playing football. He never hollered at Sodapop--- not even when Soda dropped out of school or got tickets for speeding. He just hollered at me" (12). This shows that Darry wants Ponyboy to suceed and will do whatever he needs to do to get him to achieve it. All in all, in the beginning of the book Darry was portrayed as a bad guy, he really just was being harsh since he wanted Ponyboy to suceed.

[Divson]

Liam wrote: "I also agree with Divson. But I think, Darry showed some love towards Ponyboy. He dropped out of college for him and Soda, so he could support them."

That is true, he also got a job so he could put a roof over their heads (pun not intended, because Darry roofs houses)

[CoffeyQ]

Divson wrote: "CoffeyQ wrote: "I think you see a lot from Randy when Ponyboy talks to him; just sayin y'know"

Yeah CoffeQ, Randy really opens up to Pony, someone who he barely knows, and Randy even says he could..."

I agree with this; not being biased; but when he tells Ponyboy that he would never be able to tell this his buds; it shows that he faced real human problems.

Also when Cherry says that the Socs have problems that the Greasers would never be able to think about also reveals that the Socs are just like any other human trying to make a living in a harsh world

[CleaPatra]

Sydney wrote: "The characters who change the most are Dally an Johnny"

Defiantly! And the most interesting thing about that is that they are almost foils at the beginning. Over the course of the book, things that are revealed about them make Dally and Johnny more similar.

Dallas changes a lot over the story. I mean, he's introduced as the tough one, with cold eyes, as well as his criminal record. Between that and his childhood on the streets, it would be pretty safe to assume he can't feel anything, right? Wrong. He actually seems to care, and while he only proved his love for Johnny, he could just as easily felt that way about the entire gang, maybe even his parents. Just imagine how the story would have gone in his perspective rather than Ponyboy's! It's unfortunate that his story didn't end up very well (because I don't do spoilers).

And Johnny? Well, as I said, Dally and Johnny were practically opposites in the beginning. He was introduced as a puppy that had been kicked around too much, as far as I can remember. And his parents always seemed to hate him, so he was left to fend for himself. After being jumped, he carried a switchblade purely out of fear. Along with Dally, he changes too. When the church burns, he somehow created the guts to go into the building, risking his life, to save the children. And he was having "the time of his life." And later in the story, he used this new-found braveness to refuse to see his mother.

So, overall, I would strongly agree that Dally and Johnny were the most dynamic characters in the world of The Outsiders .

[Zach]

Although in the beginning of the book Darry was portrayed as a bad guy, he really just was being harsh since he wanted Ponyboy to suceed. Also, in the first couple of pages, it says, "Darry jammed his fists in his pockets. 'They didn't hurt you too bad, did they?'" (7). This shows that Darry truly cares about his well being. Another example is brought up when Ponyboy is thinking about his grades, and it says, "Me and Darry just didn't dig each other. I never could please him. He would have hollered at me for carrying a blade if I had carried one. If I brought home B's, he wanted A's, and if I got A's, he wanted to make sure they stayed A's. If I was playing football, I should be in studying, and if I was
reading, I should be out playing football. He never hollered at Sodapop--- not even when Soda dropped out of school or got tickets for speeding. He just hollered at me" (12). This shows that Darry wants Ponyboy to suceed and will do whatever he needs to do to get him to achieve it. All in all, in the beginning of the book Darry was portrayed as a bad guy, he really just was being harsh since he wanted Ponyboy to suceed.