Rivalry In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

“Stay gold,” is a reference to the Robert Frost poem that Ponyboy recites to Johnny during their stay in an abandoned church in Windrixville, and in that specific poem, the line, “Nothing can stay gold,” plays an essential role in constructing the story. The Outsiders is told from the perspective of Ponyboy, a fourteen year old boy, who is a member of a gang called the Greasers. Ponyboy lives in the east side neighborhood, which is patrolled by the Socials, rich kids from the west side of town. The Socs make it their priority to target the Greasers, because of their different sets of values and constant rivalry. Ponyboy is in a nonstop conflict between himself and the way society labels him. The book, which was published in 1967, highlights the aspects of friendship, strength, and class segregation. The protagonist, Ponyboy, goes through a stage, at which he is exposed to

gang violence, child abuse, shootings, and murder.

He lives with his two older brothers, Sodapop and Darry, and on occasion, he hangs out with the Greasers (Johnny, Dally, Two-Bit, etc.) Along with the gang, Ponyboy must compete with the consequences of their violent lifestyle. S.E Hinton wrote The Outsiders, a realistic fiction story, although the story is written by a teenager who touches every person who reads it, because the emotions and struggles the character face are universal.

The novel, The Outsiders explores the impact of living in a place where fear is the predominant emotion and personality is based solely on appearance, due to the fact that it was during this time when society had placed a label on every individual. Most of the action and conflict is framed by the interactions within and between different groups. The book includes underage violence and drinking, delinquent behavior, and a suicide. But the indelible characters and irresistible story have consistently hooked middle school kids, teens and apathetic readers. This book appeals to teens because that’s

approximately when teenagers break into social cliques and become hostile to one another. The Outsiders has a clear positive message. Although it does contain mature content, the author clearly gets her message through to her readers, which is essential to be able to enjoy the story. S.E. Hinton explores and demonstrates a wide variety of theme over the course of the novel, such as the separation between the rich and poor, honor among the lawless, and the loss of innocence. In Ponyboy’s first encounter with Cherry Valence, a Soc, she tells him that, “Things are rough all over.” When Ponyboy comes across Cherry, he thinks of her as just another Soc, wondering how a cheerleader who drives a Corvette could have problems. By the end of the story, Ponyboy acknowledges that while the worlds the Socs and Greasers live in are very different, there are still things in each that are the same. Perhaps, the most essential theme that is explored throughout the story is the loss of innocence. While Johnny lies in the hospital, close to death, he tells Ponyboy to “Stay gold,” in which he urges Ponyboy to remain young and innocent. Johnny wants Ponyboy to stay the same, an intelligent young man. He wants him to continue being unique amongst the Greasers and continue to find happiness in movies, sunsets, and books. “Things were rough all over, but it was better that way. That way you could tell the other guy was human.” This is an example of how people judge one another based on the titles society has labeled them. Ponyboy matures and grows in his ability to view the world in a full spectrum, to stop dividing the world into black and white, good and bad, insiders and outsiders, and Greasers and Socs. Pony's fascination with sunsets at the beginning of the book and, later, his appreciation of the countryside around the church symbolizes the development of Ponyboy’s character. The Outsiders is a theme itself. Looking at life as an outsider and feeling as though one is being treated as outsider is matter of perspective. S.E. Hinton does a good job at describing unity and connection between two opposing groups, and the way teenagers interact with one another today.
The Outsiders is an American classic that teenagers have been devouring since the 1960s. I thought the book was very well done due to the fact that it sent very strong meanings about teen violence, child abuse, and friendship. It is an emotional book about the struggles of a fourteen year old, so I recommend a box of tissues. The conflicts are very universal . The story is made in order for teenagers to relate their personal problems to the outside world.