One of the most important themes in The Outsiders by S.E Hinton is Society and Class division. In the novel, the Greasers and Socs are divided by wealth, social class and opportunities to succeed. Following the journey of Ponyboy and his gang of friends, the reader learns the reality of these kids’ lives. At the beginning of the book the two groups share a hatred for each other not realizing the other similarities they share. After many tragic happenings, these youngsters realize they are not that different. The author wants the reader to understand that wealth, social class and education should not divide people. Throughout the book, the Socs and Greasers are finding reasons to go against each other. They are constantly getting in fights and calling each other names. “You guys know what Greasers are? White trash with long, greasy hair” The Socs are often given a bad example by their parents who believe wealth and looks defines who you are. This is one of the reasons the Socs can get away with anything, based off their image they wouldn’t be the ones to fight. The Greasers are often much easier to associate with violence because they are much more rough looking and from the hood. The author wants the reader to understand that there is lots of judgement in society. Still to this day people …show more content…
The Socs are always going to be considered an asset to society, no matter how much mischief they cause. The greasers, no matter what they do, are considered a nuisance to society. They don’t help the economy and are burden due to their poverty. Often causing trouble, all Greasers are classed as criminals and are underprivileged. The Socs make fun of the fact that the Greasers have a reputation, calling them out for where they live. The hood, where everyone lives outside of society and nobody is believed in. The author makes it clear that you cannot class somebody in society from their
First, the fight between rich and poor are displayed when the Greasers and Socs fight each other quite a few times. The books says “It occurred to me that they [the Greasers] could kill me right then and there” (5). This shows that the Socs believe that they have superiority over the Greasers. They can basically do whatever they want to the Greasers without fear of getting into much trouble, and the Greasers know that. Secondly, Cherry states “‘I can’t stand fights… I can’t stand them…’” (45). This shows that Cherry has probably seen quite a few fights. It also means that the fights between
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 and he always has to be afraid of Socs attacking him.
"Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while."(3). This quote from the book shows that people will think even worse of the Greasers because of their actions. Normal people would not do what they are doing because they have principles. The Greasers were fugitives, and this gave people an even bigger reason to be fearful of them and consider them a disgrace to society. The Socs did comparable things, but were not punished for them like the Greasers, and were still able to keep a sterling image of themselves. "Not like the Socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next."(3). Unlike the Greasers, whatever the Socs do, it will not ruin their reputation at all. Overall, from looking at both the Greasers and the Socs, it is easy to say that the Greasers are a bigger disgrace to society concerning their behavior than the
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!
In the book The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, the lower-class, known as the Greasers, and the upper-class, known as Socs, deal with the animosity and daily struggles they have with each other. The novel focuses on the struggles and experiences with being an outsider to society and coping with the rich side of town through Ponyboy’s eyes. His life changes when tensions rise and many tragic things happen to the Greasers and Socs that will create agony in many but heroes in a few. The three topics addressed in this compelling novel are the fight between the rich and the poor, the power of friendship, and what it means to be a hero.
After all, they are the “out” group— the clique that society condones. Ponyboy, the protagonist, also identifies himself as part of them. While reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, he felt Pip, the main character reminded him of the greasers–”the way he felt marked lousy because he wasn’t a gentleman or anything, and the way that girl kept looking down on him” (Doc B). Greasers are lookeed down opon in society becuase they aren’t rich, and the image associated with them is negative. They are believed to be a general menace to society; people think they all steal stuff for kicks, attack innocent bystanders for no reason, and are uneducated hoodlums. They are outsiders to society as a whole. Pony, no matter how smart or talented he may be, will always be treated as an outsider by the Socs just because he’s a
The Greasers are the poorest with not too much money at all. They drive fords and are much more laid back than the Soc’s. Greasers commit petty crimes and sometimes more serious ones. Greasers have long hair which they take great pride in; the Greasers wear older clothes and normally smoke far too much. The Greasers fight fair ‘“Skin fighting isn’t rough. It blows of steam better than anything.’” (p37) Greasers usually stick together but sometimes they can’t help throwing a punch or two.
On pg. 2, the text states that, “I’m not sure how you spell it, but it’s the abbreviation for the socials, the jet set, the West-side rich kids.” This quote shows how the Socs are viewed by the Outsiders as the wealthy kids that live on the West side. In the book, the Socs are seen as the people who jump the Greasers, wreck houses, and throw beer blasts. The Socs have a mixed opinion by society. In the newspaper, the Socs are in one article for being a disgrace to society and in the next article they are a pleasure to have in the community. The text states that on pg. 38, “You Greasers have a different set of values. You’re more emotional. We’re sophisticated.” This is a quote stated by a Socs girl named Cherry, who describes the Greasers she and a friend met at the movie theatre. Cherry’s perception shows how the Socs are viewed verses the the Greasers. Also, Greasers have preconceived perceptions about the Socs
The Greasers’ lives are like books. You can judge it by its cover without knowing what it really contains and not knowing their personality and true identity. As an alternative you could start reading the book until you learn the moral the secrets that were locked inside of it. The Greasers have read their own books and have learnt that the most important morals for them are courage, social class and importance of family and support.
Did you know that many people join gangs because of Family issues. Socs and Greasers have problem with family issues.They also have problems with money and are judged by others.Both Socs and Greasers deal with money problems,family issues,and are judged by others because of the way they act.
The Outsiders S.E. Hinton is about two gangs, the Socs and Greasers, who do not get along and are fighting each other as well as society. Both of the gangs are judged by their appearance, social status, and where they are from. One character that stands out in the story is Ponyboy because he is dynamic with many sides to his personality, and he is the protagonist of the story. Ponyboy can be described as sensitive, smart, and brave.
The Socs are almost always the ones that are starting the fights. For instance, jumping the Greasers all the time,just out of boredom! They usually also target weaker victims, just like when they beat up Johnny. Johnny is a Greaser, the “pet” of the group, and one of the youngest. The Socs affected him so badly that he had a scar emotionally and physically. “Johnny's face was cut up and bruised and swollen, and there was a wide gash from his temple to his cheekbone. He would carry that scar all his life. His white T-shirt was splattered with blood. I thought he might be dead; surely nobody could be beaten like that and live”(Hinton 29). Here, the author reveals that the Socs did some damage to Johnny that he would have as long as he lives, and it’s not only the physical hurt. Even though the Greasers are not fully innocent, overall the Socs have done more
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,
Book Report On The Outsiders Character Analysis: Ponyboy Curtis - Ponyboy is a fourteen-year-old member of a gang called the Greasers. His parents died in a car accident, so he lives alone with his two older brothers, Darry and Soda. He is a good student and athlete, but most people at school consider him a vagrant like his Greaser friends. Sodapop Curtis - Soda is Pony's handsome, charming older brother. He dropped out of school to work at a gas station, and does not share his brothers' interest in studying and sports.
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."