Respect In The Outsiders

Do criminals still have the right to be respected or should people just disrespect and ignore them? In the book called The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, there is a gang called the Greasers. The greasers are also known as “hoodlums.” The Greasers live on the East side, they are poor, and they also break the law. They also steal, hold up gas stations, and they jump on children. The society might think that they break the law because that is just their hobby. Even though The Greasers are hoodlums, they are still considered as honorable people because they perk up for each other, they show concern for one another, and they gambled their lives for other people.

First, the Greasers are honorable because they stick up for each other. For example, when Cherry rejected Dally, the book says, “You stick up for your buddies, no matter what they do” (26). This means that in Ponyboy’s point of view, he says that whatever happens to them,

you stand up for them. This shows honor because if they keep on supporting each other, it shows that they are doing the right action. They stand up together in each situation they face. Therefore, the Greasers is considered honorable because they help each other no matter what happens and no matter what consequences they might take.
In addition, they showed affection for each other. In particular, when the socs were drowning Ponyboy, Johnny killed one soc and said, “‘I killed him… I had to, they were drowning you Pony. They might have killed you’” (57). This means that Johnny killed one soc not because he wanted to, because he wanted to save Ponyboy. This proves honor because he wanted to keep out Ponyboy from dying. He might have murdered a character, but he still saved one life, and that is basically his best friend. Thus, this shows an honorable action because Johnny just tried to defend Ponyboy’s life.
Furthermore, Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dally saved little children. To demonstrate, when Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny went back to the church and there was fire, the book states that, “One was screaming his head off, Johnny yelled, ‘Shut up! We’re goin’ to get you out!’” (92). This explains that they risked their lives for people who are in danger. This shows honor because if they do some honorable actions, some other Greasers might do the same action as they did. As doing this actions, this shows courage, it was very brave of Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally to do that. Thus, this proves that they are trustworthy because they showed bravery and they are being selfless.
However, someone who is against this idea might say that they are dishonorable because they hurt each other.

For example, when Darry slapped Ponyboy the night before he ran away. If they really show honor, they would not hurt their friends neither their family members. Darry would not let Ponyboy run away because he knows that he might do something really worst. He made Ponyboy feel like he does not belong to his family, he let Ponyboy to think that he does not really care. Consequently, this proves that they are dishonorable because Darry put Ponyboy in pain, he made Ponyboy feel like he does not care about him and his feelings. This might be true yet this is still considered as an honorable action. Darry did not slap Ponyboy just because he wanted Ponyboy to feel like he is not related to him. It’s because he was just he was worried about Ponyboy that night because he came home late that day. Darry was scared that he might lose him. This proves that they really do love each other even though it does not completely shows through their

actions.
Although the Greasers are considered as criminals, they are still respectable. First, they stand up for one another. Also, worry for their gang members. Lastly, they also risked their lives for other people which showed that they are worth it. Hence, a single right action would never cover up a couple of mistakes, everyone does mistakes as the Greasers. People will never know how another person feels and thinks.