Character Analysis: The Outsiders By S. E. Hinton

In the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton a teenage boy named Ponyboy lives with his two older brothers named Soda and Darry, and there is some controversy on whether or not his brothers are able to take proper care of Ponyboy. All three of the brothers are apart of the neighborhood gang called “The Greasers”, which is more like a brotherhood of underprivileged boys that have eachother’s backs rather than a gang. Ponyboy finds himself involved with the murder of an egotistical “Soc” named Bob, and is at risk of being taken away from his family and friends. Ponyboy should be able to stay with his brothers, because he is a well-rounded student that obeys the law for the most part, and his brothers are able to provide financial and emotional

stability for him.
Darry makes sure that Ponyboy keeps up with his schoolwork, and that his whole life isn’t consumed by being in the gang, just like a real father would. He does this so that Ponyboy won’t be a high school dropout like Soda, or would have missed an opportunity to go to college like himself.

“ But we just didn't have the money for him to go to college, even with the athletic scholarship he won. And now he didn't have time between jobs to even think about college. So he never went anywhere and never did anything anymore, except work out at gyms and go skiing with some old friends of his sometimes,”(15). This shows that Darry puts Ponyboy’s and Soda’s needs above his own, and that he is willing to sacrifice his social life in order to have financial stability for his two younger brothers. Also it demonstrates that Darry obtains two jobs in order to give Ponyboy the chance to make something of himself, and not be stuck in the slums for the rest of his life. Even though Ponyboy staying with his brothers is the obvious choice, others may argue that Ponyboy should be put into a boys home. “...but he can't stand me. I bet he wishes he could stick me in a home somewhere, and he'd do it, too, if Soda'd let him,”(37) This shows that Ponyboy thinks that Darry doesn’t love him, and that he would get rid of him if he got the chance. However, this perception was proven wrong when Darry was crying when Ponyboy finally came home,

and Ponyboy realized how much Darry loves him. Darry is always wanting Ponyboy to perform academically and athletically to the est of his ability, so he is always looking for something for Ponyboy to improve in. “ If I brought home B's, he wanted A's, and if I got A's, he wanted to make sure they stayed A's. If I was playing football, I should be in studying, and if I was reading, I should be out playing football,”(12). What Ponyboy may think is nagging is just Darry wanting him to achieve more than he has already. This also illustrates that can see Ponyboy’s potential, and wants Ponyboys to fulfill or even surpass his expectations. All in all, Ponyboy should stay with Darry and Soda, because they only want the best for him, and want him to be the best he can be.
If Ponyboy stays with his brothers than it is a guarantee that he will be happy for the most part, and if he is put in a boy’s home he might spiral into a deep depression. If Ponyboy gets put into a boy’s home than he would have not just lost brothers, he would have also lost his gang, which essentially part of his family. “When you're a gang, you stick up for the members. If you don't stickup for them, stick together, make like brothers, it isn't a gang any more,”(24). This quote shows that the gang members are loyal to each other, and are willing to risk it all in order to sustain their allegiance with one another. In addition, this proves that their is a brother like bond between the gang members,which makes them more like a family, and not just a gang. Another possible outcome of Ponyboy going to the boys home is that the boys who are there might not be as accepting as his fellow gang members. “ ...four lean, hard guys. They were all as tough as nails and looked it. l had grown up with them, and they accepted me, even though I was younger…,”(9) This is an example of the gangs acceptance towards Ponyboy, even though he is younger and not as tough as them. Likewise, this shows that it doesn’t matter what Ponyboy looks like the gang would still treat him as an equal, and there is no assurance that the boys at the home would be so kind. In conclusion, Ponyboy should be able to continue living with his older brothers, because he is the happiest when he is with them and the gang.
The final reason that Ponyboy should stay with his brothers is that bad things are just as likely to happen in a boys home as they are to happen anywhere else. Ponyboy could still be identified as a Greaser by the Socs, and therefore be jumped by the Socs. “Greasers can't walk alone too much or they'll get jumped, or someone will come by and scream "Greaser!" at them…,”(3-4). This quote demonstrates that even if Ponyboy isn’t even associated with Greasers anymore, the Socs will forever see him as a Greaser, and still want to jump him at every chance possible. Correspondingly, he won’t have his gang members to protect him, so when he does get jumped no one will be there to get him out of it. Furthermore, Ponyboy will be angry at the government for putting him in the boys home, so he will want to defy their authority. “He was tougher than the rest of us--- tougher, colder, meaner...In New York, Dally blew off steam in gang fights…,”(10). This show that if Ponyboy has resentment towards the government he will end up bitter and mean just like his former friend Dallas Winston. Another thing this quote establishes is that when Ponyboy becomes a shell of what he used to be he will want to cancel out his anger in street fights or crimes like Dally. To sum up, Ponyboy should not go into a boys home, because they might not accept him, and it won’t benefit Ponyboy emotionally.
In summary, Ponyboy staying with his brothers is the apparent decision, because Darry makes sure he pursuing his schoolwork, he would loose the only family he has left (the gang, his brothers), and he will be angry at the government for putting him in a boys home. The reasons listed above confirm the point that Ponyboy should remain with his older brothers for the rest of his childhood. To sum up my thoughts, Ponyboy should be able to maintain his residence at the Curtis household.