Conflicts In The Outsiders

The Novel the Outsiders set in the mid 60’s, Tulsa, Oklahoma written by S.E Hinton published April 24, 1967 is a book about the life of a 14-year-old boy called Ponyboy Curtis. The novel is about Ponyboy and his struggles in the society in that he believes that he is an outsider. Ponyboy has two brothers, Darrel, who is 20 and Sodapop, who is 16. Ponyboy and his brothers are in a gang called ‘the Greasers’, the Greasers were the poorer kids. The Greasers also had an enemy gang called the Socs, short for Socials. The Socs were the rich kids. They Socs would always drink and look for fights with them. The Outsiders is not just a story about conflict, but is also about rivalry and competition. The biggest issue of conflict in the novel is about

the two gangs: the greasers and the socs and how they simplify how they hate each other. Ponyboy and his brother Darrel also show conflict, Darrel his very tough on Ponyboy and is constantly bossing him around and telling him what to do, not because he hates Ponyboy but because he recognizes much of himself in Ponyboy. In Bob and Cherry’s situation there was a bit of conflict. This occurs when Cherry told Bob she was not going to go out with him if had still been drinking. Cherry was really mad at Bob which does show conflict between them two.
Ponyboy’s relationship with Darry isn’t perfect.

In some cases, they show conflict with each other, but I think there is conflict more in Ponyboy’s eyes rather than in Darry’s. Darry keeps giving Ponyboy a hard time because Ponyboy will be granted the opportunities Darry had to give up to raise his younger brothers. It’s hard for Ponyboy though because he can’t see that and only thinks that Darry doesn’t like him. When Darry hits Ponyboy for coming home late, Ponyboy starts to think about his older brother. “I don't know... sometimes we get along okay, then all of a sudden he blows up on me or else is naggin' at me all the time. He didn't use to be like that... we used to get along okay... before Mom and Dad died. Now he just can't stand me." Pony misinterprets Darry's anger for hatred. Darry still loves his brother, and the decisions he makes for Ponyboy are always for Pony’s own good. Ponyboy finally recognizes this at the end of the story, when Soda tells them that he can't deal with the arguing all the time. When Darry and Pony both realize the pain they have caused Soda, they both agree not to argue anymore. “"No more fights. Okay, Ponyboy?" Darry said. "Okay," I said. And I meant it. Darry and I would probably still have misunderstandings--we were too different not to--but no more fights.” This show that there are issues and conflict between Ponyboy and

Darry.

The Greasers and the Socs are two different gangs who like to do what gangs usually do, one of those things are to hate other gangs. Why wouldn’t there be conflict between them two. The basic conflict between the two gangs comes from the fact that they are from very different backgrounds (The West side and the East side). The Greasers are the poor or lower middle class kids and the Socs are the rich kids with the nice cars and clothes. The Socs think there so far above the Greasers. When some of the Greasers were hanging out with Cherry and Marcia Bob walks up to Cherry and says “that's no reason to go walking the
streets with these bums.” Two-Bit immediately reacts and says “Who you callin' bums?". With very different form they can’t possibly get along. As you heard this clearly shows that there is competition and conflict between the Greasers and the Socs.

Bob and Cherry are going out but Bob can’t keep the relationship going because of his bad drinking habits. The last time Bob and Cherry went out Bob got so drunk he was “reeling and passing out in the streets”. Cherry was really angry with Bob, she said “I'm never going out with you while you're drinking, and I mean it. Too many things could happen while you're drunk. It's me or the booze.” Cherry is clearly angry and upset with Bob clearly showing conflict.

The novel The Outsiders has and shows evidence of conflict. The gangs are a critical part of this book and a critical part of the conflict in this book. Darry and Ponyboy are a part of the conflict in the Outsiders in how they have trouble getting along with each other. Cherry and Bob are having trouble with each other leaving conflict in Cherry’s eyes and finally you have the two gangs where conflict is obviously shown in how they jump each other every chance they get. Therefore, I think The Outsiders is a novel of conflict.

Thank you.