The Outsiders Essay

The novel The Outsiders, written by S.E.Hinton, exhibits a very distinguished concept regarding society, and the way the community articulates with the lifestyles of the two very distinct and different social classes: Socs and Greasers. The Socs are the " west side rich kids," while, on the other hand, there are the greasers - the poor hoods; although mischievous behaviour isn't exclusive for only greasers, the socs had their share of disruptive activities in the community, and yet, the greasers are the primary owners of the label of "a menace to society.". Throughout the book, the title of a greaser or a soc isn't only classified with the individual's attitude but also with their definite appearance, of which everyone understood the precise

The protagonist, Ponyboy, asserts that "...most greasers do things like that, just like we wear our hair long and dress in blue jeans and T-shirts, or leave our shirttails out and wear leather jackets and tennis shoes or boots." Accordingly, a major clue to a greaser's existence is their conspicuous long greasy hair, in addition to their blue jeans, t-shirts and leather jackets, which is quite the contrary of the socs way of life as Ponyboy describes it."...good grades, good cars, good girls, madras and Mustangs, and Corvairs---" The socs, in contrast to the greasers, sustain a more admirable appearance riding in Mustangs and Corvairs and dressing in madras shirts and even associating with the prettiest girls. " Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I'd consider myself lucky." The envy is understandable, especially when any crimes committed by the socs are more likely to be excused than if the same crimes are committed by the greasers. For the same reason, in society, greasers are known as being a violation to society, even when the socs are just as reckless. Even with this stain on their reputation, it is seen as though the greasers not only accept this status but in fact take pride in it. ''I am a JD and a hood. I blacken the name of our fair city... I am a menace to society. Man, do I have

The differences between them are differences between everyone, but they have managed to make them so distinct that rivalry seems like the only choice. The greasers see the socs with their expensive cars and fancy clothing, but are completely ignorant to the hardships in the socs' life, the greasers are left feeling envious but at the end they all have problems in their life, only, some are more visible than others. Ponyboy feels that the greasers have stereotypes that they have to abide by, even though these "criminals" once saved kids from a fire, they are referred to as a menace to society. This is an unfair title especially when it applies to everyone in the group. Exactly like that, Cherry, a soc who hates violence and enjoys the simple things in life like sunsets, is the complete opposite of the image the greasers hold of her. Both classes are weighed down by the standards and the criteria designated to each of them, and they both are trudging through difficult waters maintaining their individual identity when society tells them otherwise. They are so invested in keeping both classes separate, that they don't realize they both are going through the same thing, and that the conflict between them is unnecessary. Both classes