Analysis Of The Outsiders, By S. E. Hinton

As soon as you start turning the pages, the world around you has transformed into the world of Greasers and Socs. This world is in a book that is The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton. The Outsiders is still a great read today because of its powerful messages, and its wonderful writing.

The Outsiders is still read by many people today because of the theme that all people are the same on the inside. This is seen when Ponyboy says that Socs are just people. Ponyboy says, "'He ain't a Soc,' I said, 'he's just a guy. He just wanted to talk.'" (118). This quote defines the main theme of whole book that everyone is the same. Another theme is you have to make sacrifices for people you love. This theme is also found in this book when Ponyboy asks

why Soda dropped out of school. In this quote, Ponyboy says, "'How come you dropped out?' I never have gotten over that..." (17). In this quote, Soda replies to Ponyboy, "...and I get a better job and everything. I might be able to help Darry with the bills and stuff." (18). Another quote to prove my claim is when Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry get written about in the newspaper, "Sodapop dropping out of school so we could stay together..." (108). This shows that Soda just wants to help out his brothers so they can stay together and live an easier life. This theme is also shown when Ponyboy talks about how Darry works too much, "He thought Darry worked too hard anyway. I did, too. Darry didn't deserve to work like an old man when he was only twenty. He had been a real popular guy in school; he was captain of the football team and he had been voted Boy of the Year. But we just didn't have the money for him to go to college, even with the athletic scholarship he won." This quote shows that even though Darry wanted to go to college, he worked instead so that Ponyboy could have the future that he could've had.
The Outsiders is a great book because of how it is amazingly written.

One reason it is a great book is because of its astounding imagery. This can be found in the book in the scene where Johnny and Ponyboy jump off the train when they run away. The author writes, "The dawn was coming. It was lightening the sky in the east and a ray of gold touched the hills. The clouds were pink and meadow larks were singing." (63). I think this was great imagery because instead of saying that the sun shined on the hills, a ray of gold touched the hills. Also by using personification, it gives a great detailed description of the hills in the sunlight. Another way that The Outsiders is amazingly written is because of the climax. This page-turning climax can be seen in the scene of Johnny's death, "'We're all proud of you, buddy.' Johnny's eyes glowed. Dally was proud of him. That was all Johnny had ever wanted. 'Ponyboy.' I barely heard him. I came closer and leaned over to hear what he was going to say. 'Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold . . .' The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died..." "...I couldn't make a sound. Dally swallowed and reached over to push Johnny's hair back. 'Never could keep that hair back . . . that's what you get for tryin' to help people, you little punk, that's what you get . . .' Whirling suddenly, he slammed back against the wall. His face contorted in agony, and sweat streamed down his face..." "He suddenly bolted through the door and down the hall." This

climax is the most intense, yet the one of the most important parts of the book. There are still many reasons why The Outsiders is still an excellent book to read. The important parts of it is that the book has many meaningful themes that are relevant in life, and that S.E. Hinton has written this book outstandingly. This book is undoubtedly one of the greatest books that have been written, and it will be read by many for years to come.