The Outsiders
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What is the theme of The Outsiders?
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People in the world should be able to feel how another person is feeling.In the outsiders characters are able to understandl how eachother are feeling, like when Darry is hard on Ponyboy the other guys in the gang understand how Ponyboy is feeling, but they also understand how Darry is feeling.In the outsiders by S.E Hinton, S.E Hinton uses the technique of making the reader feel empathy.In the book The outsiders S.E Hinton makes you feel empathy for the characters by making you feel a little upset. S.E Hinton makes you feel upset because ponyboy gets beat up.then the author makes you feel a little glad because things get little better for him,and you’re introduced to everyone else that hes friends with.
Also in the book he makes you feel glad because in the book everythings going well for all of them and they are happy.Then S.E Hinton makes you feel a little worried because Johnny kills Bob, then ponyboy and johnny have to run away from home. Then you feel a little worried or scared but also a little bit of hope for them when they are in the church and its burning down and they are saving the children.
Towards the end you feel sad because johnny and dally are in the hospital.Then you feel a little happy because ponyboy is ok and him and the rest of his gang is in the rumble and all is going pretty well but then you’re sad again because dally dies right in front of ponyboy.Then, ponyboy falls into a coma for a few weeks after he collapsed.
I think the technique used in the outsiders is empathy.Then how things are happy for them but they run away and the mood gets a little worse.Finally how johnny dies and dally dies and the mood gets worse.
Scott wrote: "People in the world should be able to feel how another person is feeling.In the outsiders characters are able to understandl how eachother are feeling, like when Darry is hard on Ponyboy the other ..."I like your idea of how the author of "The Outsiders" uses the technique of making us feel empathy. I understand how you think this.
I like how you make the universal idea stand out
Angela Anderson Group 2
2/27/2015
The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a story about Ponyboy and his friends having a long going rivalry with the rich kids in town. The socs. Ponyboy and his group are called the greasers. The greasers think the socs are stuck up rich kids, and the socs think greasers are poor kids who aren't clean and are delinquents. The theme of this story is people change even when you least expect it. Events change people Whether its a big, dramatic change or if its just a small change.
In chapter one Ponyboy gets jumped by the socs. The same people who jumped Johnny prior to this incident. When the four socs arrived at the field they headed towards Ponyboy. One holding the knife. The one holding the knife was Bob Shelson the main soc. As soon as they got close Ponyboy explained “I was backing away from the knife.” (chapter 1,pg# 5) This shows that ponyboy couldn't stick up for himself because he was too scared. After Johnny and Dally died Ponyboy had gained this new form of confidence. In chapter twelve when Ponyboy and two-bit are at a local corner store this is where Pony shows he has changed. “when a car drove up and three socs got out i just stood there and took another swallow of Pepsi. I wasnt scared. It was the oddest feeling in the world. I didn't feel anything- scared mad or anything. Just zero.” (chapter 12, pg# 170) Ponyboy has changed a lot from chapter one to chapter twelve. Johnny passed away and so did Dally. two people he was very close to.
In chapter four Johnny and Ponyboy get jumped again. This is when Johnny kills Bob Sheldon to save Ponyboy. “‘You really killed him huh, Johnny?’ ‘Yeah, his voice quivered slightly. I had to. They were drowning you, Pony. They might have killed you and they had a blade...they were gonna beat me up...’” (chapter 4 pg#57). Johnny seeing his friend get hurt he had to do something. Events change a person. Johnny had no intention of killing a man he had to or they would get hurt or even killed. While some people think that it was just self defence some may choose to believe that Johnny has been waiting to harm Bob in a type of way. Even if it meant he would be killed.
Dally isn't the type of person to cry or even be phased by death,violence and the police but there is something with Johnny that makes him sensitive. When johnny was jumped prior to Ponyboy, Pony explained the look on Dally’s face. “Dally was there, too, swearing under his breath, and turned away with a sick expression on his face. I wondered about it vaguely. Dally has seen people killed on New York’s west side. Why did he look sick now?” (Chapter 2 pg#33). Dally was there for Johnny when his parents weren't. He really cared for Johnny and seeing this happen to him tore him apart. Also in chapter nine when johnny died because of the injuries from the church Dally went over the edge. He robbed a store and let the cops shoot him and kill him. Two-bit said “So he finally broke.” (chapter 10 pg#152) Dally couldn't handle the fact that the only thing that he loved in this world is now gone. So Dally chose it was now his time.
After Johnny killed Bob Sheldon, Pony and Johnny had to leave town to make sure the cops wouldn't find them and let the event die down. So Dally sent the boys to an abandoned church far away from town. Pony and Johnny were there for over a week. Dally came to the church to get them some food and to give Ponyboy a letter from soda. They all three left to get some food but when they got back the church was on fire. Johnny ran into the church to save the five children who were in there on a field trip. Ponyboy went in after him but Pony was the only one who made it out. The police had to go into the building to retrieve Johnny. As soon as Ponyboy was on the ambulance a man called him a hero. “Mrs.O’Briant and I think you were sent straight from heaven. Or are you just professional heros or something’ Sent from heaven? Had he gotten a good look at Dallas? ‘No we’re greasers.’ I said I was too worried and scared to appreciate the fact that he was trying to be funny. ‘You’re what?’ ‘Greasers. You know like hoods.JD’s. Johnnys wanted for murder and Dally has a record with the fuzz like a mile long.’’Are you kidding me?’ Jerry was looking at me like i was still in shock or something. ‘I am not. Take me downtown and you’ll find out pretty quick.” (chapter 6 pg# 95) This shows that Johnny and Ponyboy saw the kids in the burning church and even though they looked like bad people to the public they will still save peoples lives.
In the end The boys have changed a lot. Seeing all of these tragic events changed all of them significantly. Some good some bad. People change even when you least expect it.
Lauren GannGroup 2
2/23/15
In the book “The Outsiders”, by S.E Hinton, this book takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, around the Mid- 1960’s. In this town there were two gangs that are rivals that didn't want to have anything to deal with one another. The two gangs are Greasers and Soc’s. Ponyboy is a greaser that has a lot of friends but not a lot in common but this fact doesn’t matter to his gang. Ponyboy hangs out with this kid Johnny that ends up getting in trouble for murder by trying to save his friend in the book is when Ponyboy runs away and finds Johnny. They end up walking to a park just to hang out. Johnny and Ponyboy are talking and Three Socs are walking towards them and all Three of them are drunk. Bob (Socs) Gets ahold of Ponyboy and tries to drown him in the fountain. So Johnny has his pocket knife on him, and ends up stabbing Bob and kills him to save Ponyboy. The lesson in this book is that friends are always there and they will never give up on each other.
In the beginning of the story Ponyboy was walking home from a movie and three Soc’s were walking towards him. The Soc’s were going to jump him, and they did but the problem was is that ponyboy was in a place where he couldn't fight back.Both SodaPop and Two-Bit helped Ponyboy with the fight. PonyBoys friends/gang members are always there no matter what. The Soc’s are always trying to find a way to get into the Greaser’s head that their turf is the Soc’s turf. The Soc’s are always around when the Greasers are around. While some might argue that some people that are in the gangs are just trying to get fights started.
In the Middle Of the book Ponyboy and Johnny are both in trouble because they killed Bob. Johnny and Ponyboy hideout in abandoned Church that ends up catching on fire. The boys also try to save the kids and they do but Ponyboy and Johnny are in really bad conditions, Johnny has third degree burns and ponyboy just damaged his back. Johnny is going to be in the hospital for a long time because his body was burned badly.
Towards the end of the book Ponyboy and Dally go to the hospital and when they got there both Ponyboy and Dally were sad because the doctor told them that Johnny was going to die. After Johnny passed away Dally ran out the room screaming. Dally told everybody to meet him at a street light, when they got their Dally put up a gun and he was shot to death by police officers.
By the end of the book Ponyboys emotion show that he cares about his friends. Ponyboy saw Dally and Johnny die he became depressed. Right after he saw his friends die became upset since he lost people who mean a lot to him. Ponyboy went to court but it doesn't really matter if Johnny killed Bob as self-defence, what matter was that Ponyboy saw his two best friends die. This shows that friends are there for each other and they won’t back down without a fight. While some might argue that the Greasers don’t show a lot of emotions to each other but they forget that Dally killed himself to be with Johnny.
In The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, a teenage boy is faced with many obstacles and endures lots of loss and tragedies. The idea shown throughout the book is that everyone is different -or an outsider- compared to their peers. In the book every character is different, and every character goes through experiences no one should. This theme is shown through various characters in the story, and describes how in reality everyone is really an outsider. The definition of an outsider is a person who does not belong in a particular group (google dictionary).Ponyboy is one of the main characters in the book and he shows many qualities of being different. Through that we learn his feelings about himself. In chapter five, Ponyboy tells Johnny, “ ...you ain’t like the rest of the gang, I mean couldn't tell Two-Bit or Steve or even Darry about sunrise and clouds and stuff. I couldn’t even remember that poem around them. I mean the just dont dig. Just you and Sodapop. And maybe Cherry Valence.” This scene is significant to the theme by describing how Ponyboy feels how he is different from his friends and how he is only understood by a few guys. This sentence is extremely important because it also shows how Ponyboy feels towards Johnny and how Pony is not shy towards him. Another scene that shows how Ponyboy feels he is an outsider would be in chapter twelve, after Ponyboy read Johnny's letter and decided, “Someone Should tell their side [Dally and Johnny] of the story and maybe people would understand…” . This powerful quote is showing that Ponyboy has decided that, he is done with grieving the loss of two of his closest friends, and is ready to commemorate them through his writing. This shows how he is an outsider because anybody his age who lost two close friends and both parents in the same year, would most likely not be willing to speak about what happened, let alone write about it, and this shows Ponyboy is strong and is not like many people. Ponyboy is an outsider because he is vastly different than many people.
Darry and Sodapop, Ponyboy’s older brothers, show qualities of being different as well. When the book begins, and throughout it, the author shows Darry as a 20 year-old who is basically required to take care of his two younger brothers and who had to grow up early. Darry and his brother’s parents died and Darry had to pass up a college sports scholarship, and had to become a roofer to keep him and his brother together. Darry had to grow up and become an adult and act different than most 20 year-old’s because he cared about his brothers and refused to let anything happen to them. A scene in which Darry shows this is in chapter nine before the big rumble with the Socs. Darry tells Ponyboy, “ I don’t know if you oughta be in this rumble...”. This quality of Darry shows he has really become a guardian of Pony and really cares for him as his parents would. Sodapop’s qualities of being different are shown in many ways. A major part would be from what we learn from Darry telling Ponyboy. A good example would gbe in chapter twelve when Sodapop ran out of the house, and Darry says “When Sandy went to Florida ..... it wasn’t Soda, Ponyboy. He told her he loved her, but i guess she didn’t love him like he thought she did, because it wasn’t him”.... “ He wanted to marry her anyway, but she just left”. These quotes show that Sodapop is truly different than most boys at the age of almost 17,. he is still willing to love and marry a girl who cheated on him, and then got pregnant. Sodapop was even willing to take care of the baby with her. Most boys his age would have been extremely mad about this and want nothing to do with Sandy or the baby, making soda extremely different, and caring.
Dally Winston is a hot tempered reckless teenager with a bitter grin, who
in this story is shown in many ways and is definitely an outsider. Dally grew up in New York and was arrested for the first time at the age of 10. it is revealed in chapter one , Ponyboy says Dally “ … he had been arrested, he got drunk, he rode in rodeos, lied, cheated , stole ,rolled drunks, jumped small kids -- he did everything.”This quotes shows a side of Dally everyone sees, and this side shows he is different from most people. Dally does more things illegally then many people do in there entire life. When Johnny dies in chapter nine, Dally’s reaction of, “ Damnit Johnny …” he begged slamming one fist against the wall , hammering it to obey his will.” The use of personification in this scene helps readers see the raw emotions Dally is feeling because of Johnny death, and how Johnny was one of Dally’s closest friends. He is an outsider because he portrays a mean and reckless person, with no emotions, but really he does have them, this personality characteristic is individualized for just him.
Some people might argue that Dally is a not an outsider because of his wild ways and reckless behavior, some might even say that Dally is delinquent. In the beginning of the book it says Dally would have , “ Blown off steam in gang fights”, showing his violent tendencies.This also shows how Dally can be seen as a delinquent .But In chapter 6 though, Dally says, “...Shoot, my old man don’t give a hang whether i'm in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter…”, This quote shows that Dally grew up in a household in which it wasn’t stable and that he didn’t receive support from family, so he turned to gangs.In chapter one it even says he was associated with gangs and arressted by 10, showing how he had turned to the streets to grow up making him different because he, really didnt have a choice, and recklessness is just a part of his peronsality not the true him.
Johnny Cade, a 16 year old boy, whose life was difficult, and his only real family was his friends, is the real outsider of this story. In chapter one, it is described by Ponyboy that Johnny is beaten and yelled at by his parents constantly. Johnny is shown as the little brother to everyone. In chapter five, Ponyboy tells Johnny a Robert Frost poem, in which Johnny quotes in his final letter, and Johnny wrote, “...your gold when you’re a kid”, this quote is showing how Johnny, cared and how he was happy to be a kid. Johnny also wrote, “I don’t mind dying now. It’s worth it.”, this quote is showing that Johnny is proud of what he did and how he is happy to have chosen the not obvious choice. Johnny is different and he was okay with that. He died being himself; an outsider.
The book The Outsider was a story of teenage boys in the 1950’s/60’s going through loss and learning how they were all outsiders. This theme was shown through almost every character in the book such as Ponyboy, who lost two close friends, Darry, who was forced to grow up early, Sodapop, whose girlfriend that he loved, cheated on him and got pregnant, Dally, who was arrested many times even by the age of 10, and Johnny, a young kid was abused by parents, and died helping children. Every character went through something no one should have to, or just didn’t fit in with the norm of the group.
Harper Lee’s amazing book “To Kill A Mockingbird,” is about a brother and sister (Jem and Scout ) living in a town called Maycomb who lives during the time of segregation. What makes them different is that their father is a lawyer that supports blacks and they also have a black maid that helps them. One lesson the book suggests is that people often fear what they don’t understand. In the middle of the book ( chapter 18, pg 243 ) she uses very descriptive words to show Mayella’s confusion when respect is shown towards her. “Mayella looked from under lowered eyelids at Atticus, but she said to the judge: “Long’s he keeps on callin’ me ma’am an sayin’ Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his sass, I ain’t called upon to take it”. This piece of evidence connects with the theme because it shows that Mayella has never been called “ma’am “ or even “Miss Mayella “ , which means that nobody really respected her or show her any respect. She thought that Atticus was making fun of her so she got scared and snapped at Atticus in court.
Because Scout doesn’t understand the term “nigger lover,” she got offended and she was scared because someone might hurt Atticus. In chapter 9 pg 110, Harper still use very descriptive words and good details about how Francis called Atticus a “ nigger lover” and how he is ruining the family”. “Grandma says it’s bad enough he lets you run all wild, but now he’s turned out a nigger lover we’ll never be able to walk the streets of Maycomb again. He’s ruinin’ the family, that’s what he doin’”. This piece of evidence supports my theme because Scout seems very scared and confused on how being a nigger lover brings shame to the Finch family. Since she was confused and took what Francis said about her father as defensive she attempted to attack Francis.
While some might argue that Scout doesn’t seem scared and that she is brave because she stood up for Atticus (her father). But clearly she is scared because she didn’t know what a nigger lover was or if why being one was a bad thing. Also she didn’t understand why the family feels like Atticus brings shame or why Maycomb doesn’t like her father. She was scared someone was going to hurt Atticus.
Also my last piece of evidence that supports my theme is when Aunt Alexandra kept telling Scout of how she acts unlady like and dresses very differently. In chapter 9 pg 108, Scout said “ She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge, but when I asked Atticus about it , he said there were already enough sunbeams in the family and to go on about my business, he didn’t mind me much the way I was”. This connects to theme because Scout doesn’t really understand is really confused on why Aunt Alexandra is judging her what she is wearing. Since she didn’t understand her Aunt she decided to ask her father and worried that if everyone thought Atticus raised Jem and Scout wrong and everyone in the family would hate him or thinks he brings shame to the family.
In the end after Scout get in trouble for arguing with Francis and Mayella realize that Atticus was not disrespecting her, Scout and Mayella both realize they were wrong. In Mayella case the judge later on explained how Atticus would never do that and only show people respect because he wanted the same back. When Uncle Jack sat Scout down and had a little talk with her she realize that what she did was not lady like and not proper. Atticus had never taught Jem and Scout to act proper or told the kids that no matter if you’re a finch or not you still have to have manners and act like a proper kid. They both walked away learning that they both were afraid of something they didn’t understand.
The Outsider written by S.E. Hinton takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ponyboy along with his gang, the greasers, all show they love one another in different ways. Love and support is what kept the greaser gang together. If it wasn’t for each other they would be lost. The theme is that it is important for teenagers to feel like they are loved and supported. Johnny Cade, especially need the most support and love he can get. He got beaten by his father and ignored by his mother, unless she was off of something. He did not know what it felt like to have someone there to love you and support you through whatever. That’s where the Greasers came in at. Johnny would have been ran away if the gang wasn’t there for him. They show him how he supposed to be loved and cared for. Johnny wouldn’t know what love and affection was if it wasn’t for the gang.
The Curtis boys are all they got. Their parents are dead. Darry is forced to work two jobs to take care of the brothers. Sodapop dropped out of the school and the gang is looked down on as poor white trash. The curtis family has struggled with staying together and how to show each other they love and care for one another. Every since the death of their parents, Darry has to take on the responsibility of being a guardian for Soda and Ponyboy. He doesn’t look at them as siblings anymore, he looks at them as his own children. Ponyboy thinks Darry doesn’t love nor support him. Darry sees the potential and has high expectations for him. Darry doesn’t want Ponyboy to end up like Soda, dropping out of high school trying to keep up with the gang. Nor does he want him Ponyboy to be like himself, couldn’t go to college because he’s working two jobs trying to take care of his two younger siblings. Ponyboy says that Darry is stricter than his father was, but by the end of the book he gets to know Darry and understand him. "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 has trouble with Soda’s expectations for him. He is aware that Soda dropped out of high school, and Soda doesn’t want Ponyboy to be like him. Soda didn’t like school, didn’t do well, and is perfectly fine with working at a gas station, the job he absolutely loves. He also thinks he did the right thing to support his family. Ponyboy doesn’t care about any of that, he just wants Soda to go back to school and get and education. The gang relationships are also included in family love. The Curtis boys need the security and support they get from the gang. Darry is leading his brothers down the right path to succeed in life because they don’t have anyone but each other, so they’re making the best of it.
Most of their home life situations are abusive. They turn to the gang for the support and love they would’ve gotten from their parents. They all get the love and affection they need from one another.
BreAnne Ewing Group #5 March 15, 2015 In the book the Outsiders by S.E Hinton it is about a family not necessarily by blood but by how they feel in the heart, also In this story Ponyboy,Dally,Darry,Soda Pop,Two bit,and Johnny are like a family but they arent all blood related. This is about a group of boys that their parents aren't around so they have to learn to provide for themselves. Also this is about a boy who kills a soc trying to save his friends life. Another event that happened is when one of the boys is in trouble everyone in their “family.” is there to help them get through it. All of these acts are showing that the events leading up to your death are more important than how you died.Like when Johnny killed Bob but when that church was on fire and he ran into it and saved those kids and was burned in the process. This was the beginning of the end for Johnny's life because in the process of saving those kids from the fire he was badly burned. So when he got back to his hometown he was kept in the hospital for the bad burning. Later on in the story after the rumble Johnny says his last words to Ponyboy Dally. But the events leading up to those last words were good and bad for example Johnny was beat up by the socs, which made him extremely scared of the socs because of how badly he was injured. A bad thing that happened in Johnny's life was when he stabbed the soc Bob, while trying to make sure that Bob didn't drown Pony boy. Also when Johnny killed Bob he fled town because of what he had done. Yet he did one other major good or even great thing; he save the life of innocent children trapped in a burning church but he was badly burned which was also the main cause of his death.
Another example is Dally he was known for being a criminal but to his friends he was a brother, and he had his good and his bad moments.For example a good moment of his that someone might see as a bad moment considering the crime is when he helps to hide Ponyboy and Johnny from the cops after Johnny killed Bob, people may see this as a bad thing because he was hiding a wanted criminal but I believe this is a good act because of the intention of helping his friends/brothers out of a sticky and a largely misunderstood situation.A bad moment though might be when he was aiming a non-loaded gun at officers after robbing a grocery store many will see this as bad because of the acts and crimes that he committed but it could be viewed in a different way depending on how you look at what happened before he committed the crime he lost one of his best friends so I guess you could say that when he lost the one he honestly cared about he lost all sense of life and did the one thing he knew how to do he committed a crime and by doing so he was shot and killed leaving his family/ the guys behind.
Yes they both died in unfortunate ways and at a young age but the real thing that matters in their life is all the good things that happen in their life. So by doing these good things before dying they are showing that they don't deserve to be treated like disgusting greasers. This is showing people that even if you do something bad you can always make up for your mistakes no matter how bad they are. And that you shouldn't take anything for granted not your friends, your family, anything. And that you should do something nice for someone it doesn't have to be severe or have be life threatening like when Johnny got burned helping Pony boy save those kids. But just helping someone can affect you as a person in a good or a bad way but either way you are helping.
So even in what you think is your worst time its not because even though Johnny was terrified to stand up to the socs he was able to do it because this was one of his best friends life was being threatened because he was being drowned.Also when the boys were in the rumble they had this pent up anger from all of the times the socs tormented and hurt them and their friends, that they could now use to help them win the rumble. This helped them because by this point in time they wanted revenge and to win this rumble for Johnny so that he knows that they beat the guys that hurt him and made their life not as good as it could have been. In the end though it changed all of the boys for good even though they lost two of their best friends/ brothers they know that it was time. And also it shows that how you die is unimportant, but the important thing is that you are living your life and not worrying about all of the bad things that are threatening to ruin all of the good things...So in between all of the events happening the good things should be what's noticed out of everything else. So the story shows this theme in many ways but some of the most important are the ones I listed. Even some of the ones I didn’t list like when cherry helped Pony boy and Johnny clear their names she would be remembered as someone stepping outside their comfort zone to help someone that wasn't someone “like”her and that she didn't care that there were stereotypes about greasers and socs. Everyone was remembered for doing someone whether it was out of love or out of the kindness in their hearts.
In The Outsiders, a novel written by S.E. Hinton, there are two gangs: The rich, smart, educated Socs and the dirty, poor, greasy-haired Greasers. Ponyboy, one of the youngest greasers, is not the same as the other greasers who always want to fight, but is more quiet and loves to learn. Ponyboy is living with his two brothers, Sodapop who Pony is close to, while Darry, who Pony is not close to. One lesson this story teaches is that family is not just blood. In this novel, many of the greasers do not live with their family but live with their friends, or other greasers. The socs live with their rich parents but their parents are too caught up in money and jobs to care about their children or family. Ponyboy, is not close to his oldest brother Darry at all. Ponyboy’s best friend is Johnny, a 15 year old greaser that is abused by his parents and escapes his home whenever he can to go with the gang or talk to Ponyboy.
Another detail that shows the lesson in The Outsiders is that family is not just blood is that like family, Ponyboys brothers Darry and Sodapop keep the front door of their small house unlocked so that if any of the gang members need a place to stay, sleep, or run too they could stay there. For example like it says in chapter 7 page 113, “Our front door is always unlocked in case one of the boys is hacked off at his parents and needs a place to cool off.” This shows that the greasers instead of going to their blood, their parents, they go to Ponyboy’s house to stay even its to get away from their parents.
In this novel, The Outsiders, the gang is their family. They do not rely on their parents to be there when they are in need or even stay with them. For example on page 34 in this novel the narrator Ponyboy says “You take up for your buddies, no matter what the do. When you're a gang you stick up for the members.” Most of the greasers parents are dead, gone, or just don’t even care. Blood is not what makes each other family in this book, but where you live and what gang your in. When Johnny got jumped and beat really bad by the socs, his parents not only didn’t care but actually hit him even more. While, his friends, the greasers, came to help him and tried to beat up the socs who had beaten up Johnny and kept extra close to him ever since because he is very young and not treated right by his blood family.
These are all reasons and evidence to why I believe that one of the most important themes of The Outsiders is that family is not just blood. This novel has many different events and little details that prove this is one of the many themes possible. The characters in this book barely depend on their parents or don’t have any and live with their friends, especially the greasers while the socs have rich parents who are there but just don’t care.
The Outsiders In life everyone has some type of motivation. You can either have good motivation or bad motivation it can help you get through a lot of struggles. In The Outsiders Pony boy uses motivation to get threw a lot of obstacles. Some of the obstacles he has to get through is fighting and family affair.
In The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton there are many characters involved.The main character is Pony boy he is in the gang greasers.The other gang is the Socs. These two gangs go through a lot over not getting along with each other but they all use some type of motivation to get through these obstacles.Pony boy loses some of his best friends and to get through this he had his other other friends help and motivate him that it will be ok.
But some people may think that motivation does not get you through your problems/obstacles. Some people may think that because of what happened when they tried using motivation and it did not help them. You just really need someone to give you good motivation that will help you a lot. Pon boy has his brothers that motivate and help him through the hole novel.
One part in the book there was a piece of evidence that shows motivation will help you get through your obstacles. It was when they were at the park and they were fighting with Socs. It was serious They had Ponyboy under a fountain drowning. So Ponyboy’s friend had to help and to do this he had to stave one of them. Ponyboy was really hurt over this but his friends were there for him and telling him that it will be ok. So Ponyboy was ok after they helped him get through it.
So to conclude you can see that motivation is big in life. This can help you so much through thick and thin.Ponyboy had motivation to help him get through his problems and it really helped him a lot.Now you can see that the author S.E. Hinton uses first person narrative to show motivation through the main character Ponyboy.
Separation in society is a common modern event based on class , ( amount of money you have) . There are times when people are mistreated and hurt based on the amount of money you have . Take a look at the homeless . Some people in society do what they an to help the homeless ; whether it be giving the what little money you have , or finding a shelter for them . other people look at the lower classes as disgusting and dirty , etc . …..In “ The Outsiders “ Hinton uses the relationship between two gang relations to represent the separation of classes in society ( rich-poor relations ) . The greasers ( from the poor side of town ) represent the poor or low class of society . They have little money , and not a whole lot . their only values in society are what they have ( the friendship between them and the gang ) . The socials ( soc’s ) in this text represent the higher class of society . They ride around in classy cars ( such as mustangs , etc. ) , have classier hair , and have better clothing . these two gangs in the text represent the separation in society and how we treat each other based on wealth .
Jaylan WatsonGroup 5
3/11/15 Thematic Essay Final
S.E Hinton's story The Outsiders takes place in Oklahoma.The story is mainly about the Greasers and the Socs;the greasers are poor and the socs are rich.Ponyboy Curtis is apart of the greasers and the main character of the story and the tragedies of his life. The two groups really dislike each other and always fighting because of hatred, and the socs think that they are better than the greasers because they have more money.The theme of the Outsiders is that society separates the two groups between rich and poor.
Since, Ponyboy is poor that means he is apart of greasers because of the evidence On page 3 ponyboy says “That the Greasers are poorer than the socs and the middle class.” This supports the theme because its showing that the greasers are not as dominant as the socs because of how society separates them. Another piece of evidence is that when ponyboy was in biology class they were dissecting a worm and the raser wasn’t working so he pulled out his switchblade and the girl next to him said “they were right! you guys are hood.” This evidence supports my theme that society separates groups between rich and poor saying that they are hood because thats how society sees them , also it supports the theme because in the beginning Ponyboy said that the socs are known as the Westside rich kids, and greasers are the Eastside hoods.
While some might argue that the two groups are not separate they forget that in the text it say’s in the book Cherry tells Ponyboy that the Greasers are not much different from the Socs just that they dress differently and have greasy hair. This shows that some people think that the groups aren’t separate it just how society separates them.
Since Ponyboy is a greaser and cherry is a socs they should not be seen talking to each other.Evidence to support that is on page 45 in my book Cherry Valance tell Ponyboy that “if i see you in the hall and don’t say hi it’s not personal or anything but…She is basically saying that she doesn’t want to be seen with someone like him. This supports my theme because its saying that he isn’t good enough for her to talk to in public because its how society shows their differences between the groups.
To conclude, that the theme is society separates the two groups between rich and poor is that the evidence that I pulled out shows that since society brings out to the people that the socs are better than the greasers because they have more money.
Evie MarshallMarch 11, 2015
Group 5
Ponyboy’s Struggle of Finding Himself
Have you ever thought about how you can either be you what your friends want, or what others think you are. Well you might want to read for it's theme teaches you the answer.In the book “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton, the character Ponyboy has trouble deciding who he wants or has to be. He goes through ups and downs trying to be either what he wants to be or what others want him to be. Though he has to see that he can be whatever he wants not what his crowd is or what is friends want him to be. The theme from the book The Outsiders is that you don't have to be who others want you to be or what your crowd is you can be anything you want and you have your whole life to do it.
In the beginning Ponyboy was not really too happy with being a greaser. It didn't make him feel to good, but he never complained because he thought that was what he had to be. " Greasers can't walk alone too much or they'll get jumped, or someone will come by and scream "Greaser" at them, which doesn't make you feel too hot…." He started to think that since his friends were greasers and his family were greasers that it was only right that he be one to. Though he knows he can be better because he has good grades and is smart, he still stays a hood. Some people might interpret this as him just not liking the name “ Greasers” but clearly he doesn't want to be one but is because that is what is family and friends are.
Before the rumble Ponyboy slowly realizes he can really be better. In chapter 9 page 138. “ The boys from Brumley, too. Young hoods-who would grow up to be old hoods. I’d never thought about it before, But they’d just get worse as they get older, not better. I looked at Darry. He wasn’t going to be any hood when he got old. He was going to get somewhere. That’s why he’s better than the rest of us, I thought. He’s going somewhere. And I was going to be just like him. . .” He now knows that he can and will be better. Ponyboy understands his future is better than what his friends are going to be. This proves my theme because he knows it doesn’t matter what the rest of his friends are, it matters what he is and what he is going to do. While some might argue that Ponyboy
With the death of him two friends, Ponyboy becomes tough in order to cope. In chapter( 11 )page( 179 ) it says” Ponyboy, listen, don’t get tough. You're not like the rest and don’t try to be…” This was after Ponyboy, by himself scared off a bunch a Socs with a broken bottle. Two- bit has noticed the change in Ponyboy and knows it’s not him. Two- bit knows that it would be better for everyone if he stayed himself. This supports my claim because Ponyboy has to learn that he doesn't need to change himself because of his friends or family. He just needs to stay himself. Some people may interpret this to mean that Ponyboy is only acting like this because he thinks he should fulfill his friend Dally last wish which is to get tough, but clearly he is acting like this because he feels that since the tough one of the group is gone that he needs to be the tough one because that is what his friend wants.
Weeks after his friends death, Ponyboy finally decides to open the book his friend gave to him before he died.. It turns out that he wrote a note in the book for Ponyboy. “ ….And dont be so bugged over being a greaser. You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want…” These were Johnny Cade, Ponyboys’ best friends’ last words. With these words and others Ponyboy understood what he should and what he was. This supports my claim because now that Johnny has told him in his last words he understands that he can be anything. Ponyboy has finally truly realized that it doesn't matter who people want him to be or what they call him he knows that its his choice. Certainly it could be said that this scene in the book doesn't prove my theme, while this is a good point it fails to see that ponyboy has final closer on what he has to do which is be himself like looking at sunsets and reading books. With Johnny Cades last words, Ponyboy realizes its better to be him.
In the end Ponyboy starts as he started, walking out of the theater. The theme of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is that you don't have to be who others want you to be or what your crowd is you can be anything you want and you have your whole life to do it. I have showed What Ponyboy learned and hope you have learned the same. Remember that if you ever have trouble figuring out what your going to be between you and your friends then just read this book and after you should be able to chose.
Angela wrote: "Angela Anderson Group 2
2/27/2015
The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a story about Ponyboy and his friends having a long going rivalry with the rich kids in town...."
I like how you gave the perspective and inferred what ponyboy was thinking when he was jumped by the socs and how he was unable to defend himself
Ricyra wrote: "The Outsider written by S.E. Hinton takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ponyboy along with his gang, the greasers, all show they love one another in different ways. Love and support is what kept the gr..."Ricyra wrote: "The Outsider written by S.E. Hinton takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ponyboy along with his gang, the greasers, all show they love one another in different ways. Love and support is what kept the gr..."
Your essay is really good and has a lot of meaning
you are a friend but I'm not bias it was a good essay but some grammar could be better
Scott wrote: "People in the world should be able to feel how another person is feeling.In the outsiders characters are able to understandl how eachother are feeling, like when Darry is hard on Ponyboy the other ..."Great job I like your theme
Angela Anderson .I really like how you explained each detail in evidence to connect with your theme ...good job!
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Ms. Crain