Character Analysis Essay On The Outsiders

Perspective
Throughout life individuals face many challenges testing their values and personality one situation at a time. In the evocative novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton themes of growing up and innocence are shown. Ponyboy is not your average 14 year old he is part of a gang known to many as the Greasers. He encounters many situations testing his values and beliefs. Having lost both his parents recently he and his brothers stick together like a true family but this relationship is tested when Darry hits Ponyboy. He also experiences the loss several close friends in a very short period of time. Throughout this novel, Ponyboy encounters many life changing experiences that prove he is a dynamic character.
Ponyboy is a completely different

person in the beginning of the book as compared to his personality and perspective in the end of the book. Moreover, Ponyboy thinks that Darry despises him and can stand his existence. Ponyboy explains to Johnny why he is upset, ¨It was Darry. He hit me¨ (51). Ponyboy’s words show how hurt and horrible he feels after this incident. Nobody in Ponyboy’s life has ever hit him before until now. This action shocks him and makes him think that Darry absolutely hates him even more than he did before. Ponyboy is talking to Cherry Valance and he says, ¨ I believe you¨(35). This shows how he lies to her and still continues to believes the Socs have a worry free life. This quote implies that Ponyboy believes that the Socs have no stress or worries but he does not understand the truth, even when Cherry tells him that she has problems too. At this point in the book, Ponyboys thinks that being a part of the Socs or the Greasers defines an individual. Overall, his perspectives and personality drastically change towards the end of the book.
In the end of the book Ponyboys is a whole other person.

After the church fire Ponyboy comes to the realization of many things. Two-Bit and Ponyboy are eating at a restaurant known as Tasty Freeze when Randy asks to speak with him. Ponyboy tells Randy, ¨Maybe you would have done the same thing, maybe a friend of yours wouldn’t have. It’s the individual¨(115). He finds out that you cannot define someone based on of they are part of the Socs or the greasers. Furthermore, he finds out that every one is a individual and that means that just because he is a part of a certain group it does not mean that they are all going to react or perceive a situation in the same exact way. In addition, he say this to Randy because when there was a fire in the church Dally was not willing to risk his life to save someone else's when Johnny and Ponyboy were more than willing to help the kids. This shows event shows how all Greasers and Socs are not the same. In the beginning of the novel Ponyboy believed Darry disliked him and thought he was a nuisance. However, later on at the hospital Ponyboy tells Darry, “I’m sorry” (98). Ponyboy’s words expose how he feels bad for thinking Darry disliked him all along when in truth he loved him more than words could describe. He realizes that Darry fears losing another family member that is why he is so overprotective of Ponyboy. Hence, proving Ponyboy is clearly a dynamic character.
Overall, throughout the novel Ponyboy encounters various life changing events,

which change his outlook on life. In the beginning of the novel Ponyboy thinks Darry hates him however, later on as the book progresses he realizes Darry loved him all along. In addition, Ponyboy thinks that all Greasers and Socs are the same but he is proven wrong when he realizes there is still still an individual behind the group. This proves that Ponyboy is a dynamic character.