Ponyboy’s Perception: Character Analysis in 'The Outsiders'

The novel The Outsiders (1967) by S.E Hinton explores a variety of lessons that have influenced Ponyboy’s perspective of the characters mentioned throughout the course of the novel. These characters are from both sides of the compass and play a particular role throughout the progression of the story. Three concepts that the essay will be focusing on are Darry, Socs and the true meaning of Nothing Gold can Stay by Robert Frost. This essay will explain Ponyboy’s attitude towards the characters and a poem as he progresses from the beginning of the story. One of the lessons Ponyboy learned over the course of the novel was that Darry loves him, but is strict to help Ponyboy succeed in life. Darry Curtis is 20 years old and acts as the legal

Nothing Gold can Stay is a poem written by Robert Frost which was published in 1923. In the novel, it is a recurring reference as it always highlights a major point in the story as well as it is explained in many ways. “And then I remembered. Dallas and Johnny were dead. Don't think of them, I thought. (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. Try to think that Johnny is better off now, try to remember that Dally would have ended up like that sooner or later. Best of all, don't think. Blank your mind. Don't remember. Don't remember.)” (Hinton, p. 133) The quote shows that as the story comes to a conclusion, Ponyboy realises what the true meaning of Nothing Gold can Stay is, from the time he mentioned it to Johnny. He realises that both Johnny and Dally were both important members of the gang and were dearly loved as well as honoured by the Greasers. The Greasers are a gang that lives on the East Side. In the novel, they are classified through their characteristics of being hoods, driving old cars, robbers and keeping their hair long. Their group is poorer than the Socs and have been targeted for jumping since and before the death of Ponyboy’s parents. Eventually, after many life-changing incidents, Ponyboy comes to realise that something that is perfect and important

The examples that have been analysed throughout this essay represents and explains why these characters have had an influence on his thoughts. The three lessons that have been discussed in this essay are that Darry’s feeling are not expressed from his outwards appearance, Socs seem like that they have everything they require for a good life but they also face predicaments and that the true definition of nothing gold can stay is that a person who is treasured and valued cannot last endlessly. Overall, this essay explains and informs a few lessons that Ponyboy experienced about his friends, family and life in general. Even though Ponyboy is the narrator of the novel, other characters have also been affected for experiencing as well as establishing new thoughts that they haven’t felt or known