Character Analysis Essay On The Outsiders

2011 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character analysis essay

All people are influenced by other people's opinions or thoughts. When we hear someone’s thinking, we tend to consider it, especially if we are in denial or reconsidering something. In the novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, some characters make Ponyboy realize that Socs are no different than the Greasers and there is no need to fight. Their thoughts and opinions affect the way Pony looks at things. Although there are several characters that talk to him and make him rethink his opinions, there were three main influencers: Randy, Johnny, and Cherry. Randy and Johnny allow Pony to recognize that fighting is useless, and Cherry lets him see that Socs are very similar to Greasers. These characters help Pony understand that we are all the same …show more content…

So I’d fight if I thought it’d do any good. I think I’m going to leave town” (117). Randy keeps on explaining his opinion about the rumble tonight, and fighting overall, to Ponyboy. He states another reason why fighting is non profitable: “It doesn’t prove a thing.” Randy would fight if it was going to help or solve something, but it is not. From this, he decides that he is going to leave town so he can escape the danger and not be called a “chicken.” Pony comprehends that Randy is a nice guy who does not want to get involved in more deaths or injuries. He sees how Randy is different than the others in his gang. This whole conversation that Randy and Ponyboy has let Pony realize that there are nice sides of Socs-not all Socs are bad, but all fighters …show more content…

You may think that Ponyboy does not change his feelings on the two gangs and/or fighting. One cannot deny that Pony did not change his mind completely after Randy’s conversation with him before the big rumble. After talking about how fighting is not going to change their social status and the two gangs will go back to their regular rivalry, Ponyboy is still persuaded into going to the rumble. Two-Bit and Soda tell him that it will be fine- “Skin never hurt anyone,” says Soda. Then, Ponyboy goes to the rumble and beats up other people. “I’ll be okay... I’ll get a hold of a little one, okay” (134). While this may be true, Pony really displays how much he’s changed at the end of the novel. You can tell that he has developed a better understanding for the Socs and he has changed his mind about

Show More
Related

  • Literary Analysis Essay On The Outsiders

    447 Words  | 1 Pages

    People should have a conversation with someone and get to know them before judging them. Ponyboy changed the way he thought of the Socs. At first he thought of the Socs as thugs who enjoy jumping Greasers. He later learned that Socs have problems that Greasers don’t know of and not all Socs hate Greasers.

    Read More

  • Character Change In Hinton's The Outsiders

    864 Words  | 2 Pages

    This started to happen when he was in the church trying to hide away from the police because of the murder of one of the Soc’s. “I was trembling, and it wasn’t all from cold” (Hilton p.57). This shows that Ponyboy was scared, starting to break, and noticed that maybe this “hard bad boy” life isn't for him. Ponyboy put more and more thought about what it takes to be a greaser, which made him realize that maybe the gang life wasn’t good for him. “We were good fighters and could play cool, but we were sensitive and that isn’t a good way to be when you’re a greaser” (Hinton, p.88). Ponyboy is expressing that it is hard to be as strong as the other boys and sometimes he just couldn't or he couldn't be ok with what they were doing. “It drives my brother Darry nuts when I do stuff like that, ‘cause I’m supposed to be smart’ I make good grades and have a high IQ and everything, but I don't use my head” (Hinton, p.4). Ponyboy knows he has the potential to be something else and while being in hiding in the church it helps him realize that if he really wanted to he could be whatever he puts his mind

    Read More

  • Stereotypes In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

    961 Words  | 2 Pages

    He realizes that he had an identity that he can communicate and be like a greaser, but doesn’t devote to the greaser way of life. In the scene, Ponyboy has an advanced way of life that includes both the Soc and greaser style, “Socs are just guys after all...Thing are rough all over.” Ponyboy at this time, understands how a Soc and a Greaser are similar and are of the same kind, human, yet are also different. He establishes an idea that the identity of a person is important because it describes who you are. As a result, Pony learns to look between the lines of people, not just at the extremes. The evidence that supports this is also “On the Sidewalk Bleeding” as I stated before. Andy says, “I’m Andy, he screamed wordlessly, I’m Andy.” When Andy’s death was coming close, the only thing we wanted in the end, was an identity. Similar to Ponyboy who is different from the gang and has a distinct personality. He is disparate because in the gang, Pony was the only one who ever thought about the sky, clouds, and books, which proves him exclusively in the group. This proves that Andy and Ponyboy are different from their gang and have a personality different from the group, and they both actually want to be different and be known not as a Royal or a Greaser, but as Andy and

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On The Outsiders

    738 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the book The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy, along with his brothers and friends, has to face the daily struggles of being a greaser among the Socs. This fiction book focused on Ponyboy’s life and the problems he ran into with the Socs. He and his gang of friends had fights with the Socs that happened often, and had to deal with a Soc being killed by one of the Greasers, though it was an act of self defense. The three topics addressed in this intriguing novel are the fight between rich and poor, the power of friendship, and what it means to be a hero.

    Read More

  • The Outsiders Book Report Essay

    507 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Published 1967 Published by: Puffin Books Genre: fiction The book The Outsiders is the realistic story about this between two very different groups in a town in the United States: the poor Greasers from the east side, and the Socs, whitch is what the greasers call the socials, the richer boys from the other side of the town. Ponyboy Curtis is the narrator of the story, a 14-year-old boy who lives with his two older brothers, Darry and Soda. He is a pretty good athlete and student, but is not treated the same as the richer students at his school. Ponyboy uses to have long hair that he greases back, a symbol of being in the outsider gang. He is unhappy with his situation, because Darry is too protective of him

    Read More

  • The Outsiders Reckon A Hero

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    Moreover, Ponyboy is a thinker. He can think for the opposite side of his gang, the Socs. Although the Socs almost drowned him, he can still understand the Socs and didn’t be blinded by the hate. He in the chaos and impulsive world can see through the surface of the conflict and see the core of the world that people are the same. That is really amazing and Ponyboy does have the board mind of a

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of Ponyboy A Greasers

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    One reason is that he fought against the socs in the rumble (big fight between the socs and greasers). “I have been. a rumble. I’m okay”. (83) This quote means that Ponyboy was in the rumble he got hurt, and is okay. Another reason that Ponyboy accepts being a greaser is that he looks like one. For example, the key aspects of being a greaser are having long greasy hair, getting drunk, smoke a lot, and jump socs. Ponyboy does pretty much all of this. The last reason that proves that Ponyboy accepts being a greaser is that is supports the other greasers. “Don’t remember how Johnny was your buddy, don’t remember that he didn’t want to die. Don’t think of Dally breaking up in the hospital, crumpling under the streetlight ” (81). This quote means that Johnny was Ponyboy’s best buddy and he never wanted to die but he did. Dally breaking up in the hospital and crumbling in the streets is almost meaning how Dally reacted to Johnny dying and that led up to him dying. The parts where Ponyboy says, “Don’t think of” means to take it off his mind and try to feel better about the two deaths. The greasers also respect Ponyboy, for example, during an argument towards the end of the book Darry said to Ponyboy “Sure, little buddy” (84). Another example of the greasers respecting Ponyboy is how Johnny helps Ponyboy feel better a lot of in a lot of conflicts. For instance, getting hit or getting almost drowned. Ponyboy positively accepted

    Read More

  • The Outsiders Movie Essay

    1185 Words  | 3 Pages

    The movie, The Outsiders, starts with the Curtis parents on their weekly, Saturday evening drive to the baking store to buy some ingredients for their boys’ favorite Sunday morning, breakfast treat: chocolate cake. The Curtis boys love their chocolate cake for Sunday breakfast not only because they love it, but also because they appreciate how hard their parents have to work to save the monies necessary for the morsels that put smiles on their faces!

    Read More

  • Character Analysis Essay On The Outsiders

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout life individuals face many challenges testing their values and personality one situation at a time. In the evocative novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton themes of growing up and innocence are shown. Ponyboy is not your average 14 year old he is part of a gang known to many as the Greasers. He encounters many situations testing his values and beliefs. Having lost both his parents recently he and his brothers stick together like a true family but this relationship is tested when Darry hits Ponyboy. He also experiences the loss several close friends in a very short period of time. Throughout this novel, Ponyboy encounters many life changing experiences that prove he is a dynamic character.

    Read More

  • Conformity And Conformity In The Outsiders By S. E Hinton

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ponyboy is attacked by stereotype threat several times throughout the book. One example is the beginning when he is jumped by four Socs“I about decided I didn’t like it so much ,though, when I spotted that red Corvair trailing me.” Hinton 4. Ponyboy was cornered by four Socs who proceeded to punch and beat up Ponyboy. The four kids only beat up Ponyboy because he is a Greaser and he is the enemy of their gang, the Socs. Beating up Ponyboy is what is expected of them. This shows that these Socs are trapped by stereotype because they embraced that stereotype and made it a part of their identity. Ponyboy does show signs of

    Read More

  • Who Is Ponyboy In The Outsiders

    470 Words  | 1 Pages

    From Pony’s perspective, he was the youngest greaser, and was like everyone's little brother. He was always hanging around the other guys and didn't like to steal or fight. He was one of the good greasers. Pony gave good details and was always clear on what was happening in the story. PonyBoy's parents died in a car accident when he was younger, so he lives with his brothers Darry and Sodapop. Darry helps Pony a lot. “If I brought home b’s he would want a’s and if I got a’s he want to make sure they stay a’s” Darry told Ponyboy (Hinton 13). Darry cares about Pony’s grades. Darry is Pony’s legal guardian, and Ponyboy wants it to stay that way. I think people should get to know greasers before they call them offensive names.

    Read More

  • The Outsiders Identity Analysis

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    He is told “you’re too young” to be smoking by Jerry. Ponyboy doesn’t realise that he’s too young because he’s use to seeing all of his peers smoking, provoking him to think that it’s normal. Another example would be that all his mates had a reason to fight in the rumble, this caused him to wonde why he fought in the first place if it wasn’t for self defense. Sometimes the problem with having a peer group, can be that those around the individual can start to cause peer pressure.

    Read More

  • Ponyboy Is A Hero Essay

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ponyboy doesn’t act like any regular greaser who is tough and likes to pick fights. Ponyboy cares about other people and will do things to benefit others. “I didn’t know what he was talking about, so I just went on picking up the glass from the bottle end and put it in the trash can. I didn’t want anyone to get a flat tire.” (pg. 172) Instead of leaving the

    Read More

  • The Outsiders Theme Essay

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Outsiders identified the 60’s, often there would be violence between groups and often involving a group’s social class. For instance, the tensions between the Socs and Greasers is violent, and this will lead to Bob’s death, Johnny’s death, as well as many injuries throughout both gangs. The book The Outsiders is written by S.E. Hinton and is portrayed through the eyes of a high school student in Tulsa, OK where S.E. Hinton grew up. Hinton began writing The Outsiders in 1965 at the age of 17 and the book was finally published in 1967 when she was 19. The difference in perspective upon the society and social class creates issues throughout The Outsiders and they assume the problems will be solved with violence,

    Read More

  • The Outsiders Book Review Essay

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Outsiders is about the life of a 14-year-old boy. The book tells the story of Ponyboy “Curtis” and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider. Ponyboy and his two brothers, Darrel (Darry), who is 20, and Sodapop, who is 16, have recently lost their parents in an automobile accident. Pony and Soda are allowed to stay under Darry's guardianship as long as they all behave themselves. The boys are greasers, a class term that refers to the young men on the East Side, the poor side of town. The greasers' rivals are the Socs, short for Socials, who are the "West-side rich kids."

    Read More

More about Character Analysis Essay On The Outsiders

Open Document