Analysis Of The Outsiders In The Outsiders

Is it better to be an individual or conform to expectations just to fit in like others? This choice is faced by Ponyboy Curtis, the narrator, throughout S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. He belongs to the Greasers, a group of delinquent friends, who are viewed by many as poor and dangerous, while the rival Socs are viewed as rich, smart, and powerful causing the Greasers to envy them. Ponyboy learns from Randy Adderson, a Soc who is trapped by stereotype threat, that their lives are not as perfect as he expected it to be and they too face problems. In addition, Ponyboy tries to act tough and fit in with the rest of gang, but his Greaser companions, such as Two-Bit Matthews, teach him to embrace his own characteristics which sets him apart from

Ponyboy tries to act like other Greasers when he says, “ ‘I’ve had about all I can take from you guys.” I started toward them, holding the bottle the way Tim Shepard holds a switch- out and away from myself, in a loose but firm hold. I guess they knew I meant business, because they got into their car and drove off.” (Hinton 171) This shows that Ponyboy wants to act tough like the other Greasers because he knew that he was not as tough as the old as the other older members of the gang and just wanted to fit in since they are his only family ever since his parents died. Ponyboy feels that if he tries to act like other Greasers more, he would be loved and appreciated more by them. In addition, Two-Bit Matthews conforms to the Greasers when he says, “‘Shoot, everybody fights.’ If everybody jumped in the Arkansas River, ol’ Two-Bit would be right on their heels.” (Hinton 137) This shows that Two-Bit Mathews does exactly what everyone one does to fit in with them without his own judgement. Two-Bit fought with the rest of the gang because he did not want to be left out from the gang. Hence, most Greasers and Socs have the need to abide like the rest of the gang and not be an