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Character analysis essay
Character analysis essay
Character analysis essay
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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…
and fighting will not solve anything. A Soc that acts different than the others talks to Ponyboy twice--one time in a Mustang and the other time at his house when Pony was sick--who shows similarities to Pony. His name was Randy. Randy was supportive and he wanted to live in a normal world where there were no Socs, Greasers, or fighting, just like Ponyboy. At the Curtis house, Randy explains his feelings about fighting. He passionately states, “I’m sick of this. Sick and tired. Bob was a good guy. He was the best buddy a guy ever had. I mean, he was a good fighter and everything, but he was a real person too. You dig?” (116). Here, Randy explains how he believes that fighting is dumb and useless. He doesn’t want anyone else dying, like his friend, Bob, did. Randy knows that Bob was a real good guy, but when it came to fighting and alcohol, he got very risky and crazy. This makes Ponyboy realize that Bob was usually a normal person when he was not involved in fights. Pony used to think of him as a bad guy, no matter what. Randy’s conversation opens up his mind to realize that Socs are normally well behaved, but sometimes, just like Greasers, they can act up. In that same conversation, Randy also says, “And tonight... people get hurt in rumbles, maybe killed. I’m sick of it because it doesn’t do any good. You can’t win, you know that, don’t you?” (116-117). Randy continues to express and prove his feelings about rumbles. He explains that rumbles do no good and they do not change anything. People get murdered for no reason--nothing will change. Greasers will always remain to be poor and vulnerable and Socs will always be rich and mean. Randy knows this because he has probably fought in many of these rumbles, fooled into believing they will make a difference. Ponyboy understands that he is right, fights are no good. Nothing will change because of tonight; maybe people will lose their lives but that is all. This makes Ponyboy consider not fighting, but he eventually does for Johnny. Right after that, Randy supports his reason why he does not like rumbles. Randy rants, “It doesn’t prove a thing.
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…
are. One of Pony’s close friends, Johnny, impacts him and his opinions. Johnny states many phrases in this book that allow Pony to realize new information about fighting. He learns things from Johnny that he never even thought of before. Johnny came from an abusive household, but he is very wise. When Johnny stabs Bob to death in the park, Pony gets terrified. Johnny’s calms him down by saying, “I had to. They were drowning you, Pony. They might have killed you. And they had a blade... they were gonna beat me up...” (57). Right after Johnny murdered Bob, Pony was dumbfounded-he could not even comprehend what had just happened. Here, Johnny tells Pony why he had to do it; he had to protect their lives. This makes Ponyboy realize that he had to do it; if he had a choice, he would not of, but he had to. Pony, later in the book, considers this information and wonders why he continues to fight even though there is no life threats. This thought flows right into my next paragraph. Considering all of opinions on fighting that he has heard, Pony begins to question himself. He thinks, “Why do I fight? I thought, and couldn’t think of any real reason. There isn’t any real good reason for fighting except self-defense” (137). Throughout each chapter, Johnny talks to Pony and others about how he does not enjoy fighting. He claims the only good reason to fights is to protect yourself: self-defense. Because of all of this fighting going on, the rumble coming up and the stabbing, Ponyboy looks back on Johnny’s opinion about fighting. He considers this and wonders why he fights. He realizes Johnny’s thinking is right and it makes sense. Johnny only killed Bob to save Pony from drowning and himself from getting beat up too. Pony is finally understanding that fighting is bad and there is no need to unless your life's in danger. Johnny talks to Pony and Dally when he is dying and tells the boys, “Useless... fighting’s no good...” (148). This simple line expresses a lot about Johnny. Being that this was some of his last words shows how much it meant to him. Right before this, Ponyboy and Dally run into his hospital room to tell him that they won the rumble against the Socs. Johnny’s response was this quote, which he said very enthusiastically. This was probably an unexpected answer for Dally and Pony-they were probably expecting something more happy and proud. Like stated before, this dialogue means a lot because the author could have chose something more meaningful for Johnny’s last words, yet she decided on this. This just shows that Johnny hated fighting with a passion, especially after his stabbing event. Dally and Pony react differently, but they were probably both confused. This makes Ponyboy realize that fighting is horrible and he should not do it anymore for Johnny’s sake. All of Johnny’s advice affects Ponyboy, making him think twice about fighting and all of its cons and nonexistent pros. Johnny plays a big role in this book because he says a lot of things that make Ponyboy realize new information about fighting. Another character that makes Pony learn new things about the Socs and fighting is Cherry, a Soc. Cherry’s aggressive conversations with Ponyboy allow him to understand that the Socs are very similar to the Greasers. One of their first talks was sparked by Pony explaining Johnny’s incident with the Socs and their blue Mustang. Cherry replies with, “All Socs aren’t like that. You have to believe me, Ponyboy. Not all of us are like that. That’s like saying all you greasers are like Dallas Winston. I’ll bet he’s jumped a few people” (34). She informs Ponyboy that not all Socs are like the crazy, drunk guys. There are some, like her and Marcia, that are normal and nice. But, when some Socs get drunk, they get crazy and eager to fight. She also mentions in this conversation that not all Greasers are like Dally. This helps Ponyboy understand what she is trying to say because he knows that him and his friends are not crazy like Dally can be. Cherry helps him understand that they are all nice people on the inside, just like the Greasers are. Not all of them are rotten gang members. After that quote, Cherry explains to him that he is wrong-not all Socs are like those guys who mugged Johnny and not all of them are spoiled rich. She informs him, “I’ll bet you think the Socs have it made. The rich kids, the West-side Socs. I’ll tell you something, Ponyboy, and it may come as a surprise. We have troubles you’ve never even heard of. You want to know something? Things are rough all over” (34). Cherry’s conversation with Ponyboy teaches him that Socs have it bad too. Just because they are the rich kids, does not mean that they do not experience issues throughout their life. This surprised Pony because he believes her since she is very truthful and kind to him. Ponyboy and the other Greasers have always thought that they “have it made.” Now, Ponyboy sees that they most likely deals with problems much different than theirs. They both have problems; they are both human. The scene where Ponyboy asks Cherry to go see Johnny, she explains to him that he did not know all of Bob-only his bad side. She implies,“You only knew his bad side. He could be sweet sometimes, and friendly. But when he got drunk... it was that part of him that beat up Johnny” (128). She explains that Bob was not always this killer who went around in a blue Mustang with his colleagues picking fights with Greasers. Bob, when he was not drunk, could also be a sweet friend-that’s how Cherry saw him. Ponyboy only saw and knew his bad side. Pony, and probably the rest of the Greasers, all knew that side and never considered Bob to be sweet or caring. This makes Ponyboy realize that not all Socs were crazy killers, just like not all Greasers were like Dally’s aggressive side. He comprehends that they all, Greasers and Socs, have two sides: a good and a bad. Cherry allows Pony to realize that they can all be gentle. Because of Cherry, Pony learns that the Socs are not completely different the Greasers. It is often argued that Ponyboy does not learn anything about the Socs or fighting from other people.
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
fighting. Ponyboy Curtis is definitely impacted by the conversations he’s had with three of the characters: Randy, Johnny, and Cherry. At the end of the novel, he realized that the Socs and the Greasers have more similarities than differences. Even though they live in different towns and face different challenges, they both deal with their own problems. Pony also learns that there is nothing good that you can get out of from fighting with each other. In the end, fighting is never a valid option. Because of these characters, Ponyboy learns new things that helps him live a better life. Although other people's opinions can anger us sometimes, they always help us see something new from another perspective. We should always consider people’s thoughts--for they might be right.
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
Showing that Ponyboy was very inexperienced and thought Mickey Mouse Sodas horse was just like Soda and they were brothers.Thirdly, we see how some actions Ponyboy’s gang does help show the need for childhood innocence like when pony says,” Darrel, who we call Darry, works too long and hard to be interested in a story or drawing a picture,” (Hinton 3). Darry is only 20 and he has a job working on roofs he works so hard so he can care for his brothers Soda and Ponyboy he has no time to be a kid himself he is working like a man when he is only a child.While some believe the main theme is brotherly love I argue its preserving childhood innocence. While this is a good point, because Ponyboy’s group definitely sticks up for one another in a brotherly fashion, it lays a strong foundation for preserving childhood innocence. Jonny had never been a coward he was a good man in a rumble, (Hinton 34) this shows how has Johnny loses his innocence, he becomes fearful of the Soc’s and begins to carry a switchblade to keep his gang safe, you might think this shows brotherly love, but it also shows preserving childhood innocence because when Johnny got used to being targeted by the Soc’s he lost his innocence, that’s why he would carry stuff like switch blades to keep him and others safe from the Soc’s. While the Greasers grew up they lost more and more of their innocence to rumbles and hatred of the Soc’s.
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
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.
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,
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 street light ” (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 died and then leaded up to him dying. The parts where Ponyboy says “don’t think of” this is 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
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
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
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!
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
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.
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."
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
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
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.