Cherry Valance's Argument Essay

When Cherry Valance states that “Things are rough all over” she meant that it was not easy being a soc despite the money and the cars. The first piece of evidence that proves that the socs have it rough is when Cherry is talking to Ponyboy and tells him, “We're sophisticated--- cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us. You know, sometimes I'll catch myself talking to a girl-friend, and realize I don't mean half of what I'm saying.” (Hinton 38). This proves that socs have it rough because nothing is real with them. The socs can't be themselves and have to play a fake role in order fit in. The socs constantly need to focus on fitting in and they cannot be themselves. This is a super hard and rough lifestyle. So when Cherry says this, readers are

shocked because readers would not expect a rich soc with friends, money, and cars to life a hard life. So, this quote really did put the soc life into perspective.Secondly, evidence that proves that being a soc is not easy is according to cherry, ponyboys thinks, “That was the truth. Socs were always behind a wall of aloofness, careful not to let their real selves show through.” (38). This shows that the socs have it hard. This is because they cannot be themselves. The socs need to put up a certain reputation which means they can't be themselves. It is rough when you always need to put up an act and cannot be yourself.

So even though socs have money and cars the socs have no personality. The socs “were alway behind a wall of aloofness.” The last piece of evidence that proves that it is not easy being a soc is when Randy tells ponyboy that “ For somebody to tell him (Bob) 'No.' To have somebody lay down the law, set the limits, give him something solid to stand on. That's what we (Socs) all want, really.” (116). This shows that it is hard being a soc. It might seem fun never being told no, but in the perspective that Randy is using never being told no makes things unstable and limitless. If Bob had been told no then he would have learned that there are limits and boundaries that people should not cross like for example, jumping kids. If Bob had been told no then he might have still been alive. This type of life still is extremely rough because the socs have parents that have spoiled them and let them do whatever they want causing an unstable life and not knowing the boundaries of right and wrong. This is why when Cherry Valance states that “Things are rough all over” she meant that it was not easy being a soc despite the money and the

cars.