Empathy In The Outsiders

Neil Barringham once said, “The grass is not greener on the other side, it is green where you water it”. The film The Outsiders really resonates with this quote. It tells a story of two groups of ignorant teenagers who allow their socioeconomic differences impede their relationship. Little do they know, they share the same problems and live in the same world. Like the quote says, the grass is green where one waters it but they do, in fact, share the same yard. One of the most prominent themes in The Outsiders is empathy. What the characters experience on screen is a very common problem today. Adolescents struggle to empathize with others. Teenagers that watch this film will find that they have been in similar situations or have felt the same

emotions the characters feel. The Outsiders really speaks to the teenage generation with strong themes of empathy.

The two groups in the movie are called the Greasers and the Socs (short for socials). An intense feud exists between them and the hostility stems from class distinctions. The Soc are wealthy and popular while the Greasers are poor with no social standing. They think they live in different worlds and believe they are superior to each other in one way or another. Ponyboy Curtis, the main character, has a preconceived idea of what it means to be a Soc. His inability to empathize really shows when he talks about the Socs problems. “I really couldn't see what Socs would have to sweat about—good grades, good cars, good girls, madras and Mustangs and Corvairs—Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I'd consider myself lucky.” Ponyboy does not stop to think about non-materialistic problems the Soc could possibly

have. He thinks that just because they are rich and own nice things that they have it easy. The Soc have many internal problems that they try to mask with materialistic things. The Soc are well aware that they are wealthy and live a luxurious life and they are also aware that Greasers are known to be poor. Out of ignorance and inability to empathize, the Soc associate being poor with having no education. Ponyboy is very academically inclined and proves the Soc wrong. The Soc also think the Greasers are low-life delinquents but they are actually very compassionate and loyal. They would go to the ends of the earth for their family and close friends. Each group makes all of these assumptions with no real evidence. The Soc may have nice cars and houses but what the Greasers lack financially, they make up with remarkable bonds and relationships that are priceless.
On the other hand, the Soc are extremely superficial and lack depth in everything they do.

A character named Sherri, who is a Soc and also friends with Ponyboy states “You greasers have a different set of values. You're more emotional. We're sophisticated - cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us." Sherri cannot empathize with Ponyboy because she is not familiar with intense emotions, just like the rest of the Socs. For the Soc, too much emotional investment is too much of a commitment. For the Greasers, that is all they have. They value their brotherhood more than anything. Ponyboy and Sherri open each other up to new worlds and it led to the mutual understanding and respect between the Soc and Greasers. The scene where Sherri and Ponyboy discuss the sunset really bridges the gap. Sherri says she has a great view of the sunset from the south side, and Ponyboy informs her that he can see it as well, but from the north side. The sunset symbolizes connection and unity. It is proof that the Soc and the Greasers, no matter how different they may think they are, share the same sky. Ponyboy states “Things were rough all over, but it was better that way. That way you could tell the other guy was human too.” For the first time, he refers to the Soc as “humans” which shows he has a newfound respect for them thanks to Sherri. This scene is a stepping-stone for the Greasers and the Soc and their mutual respect for each other. Ponyboy serves as a gateway for

the rest of the Greasers to respect the Soc as well. He is the first to gain this respect and he will pass it on to his brothers, as will Sherri. Empathy is a ripple effect and Sherri and Ponyboy end the cycle of hate.
The audience for The Outsiders is usually male. There is a lot of violence and gang-related scenes that usually pertain to men. Almost all of the characters are in high school or should be so the typical age would be between 14-18. There is a lot of social drama that goes on which high school students can relate to. Also, the behaviors of these characters are very similar to many teenagers today. According to a study at The Research Centre of Adolescent Development at Utrecht University, specifically adolescent males decline in affective empathy between the ages of 13 to 16. All of the main characters are teenage males that struggle to empathize. Also, like most typical male teenagers, they are young, carefree and think they are invincible, which leads to trouble. This film could get their viewers to reevaluate the way they perceive people or provide common ground for the young males who let ignorance stunt their personal growth.
The Outsiders really speaks to the teenage generation with strong themes of empathy. All of the conflict in this film stems from ignorance and lack of empathy. The Soc and Greasers despise each other because that is how it has always been but they do not ever think about what the other group is going through or why they behave the way they do. This film is a really great representation of social class conflict and how ignorance and inability to empathize can really impact personal growth and relationships.