Social divide is a common phenomenon appears in recent society. The cause of this division is their innate differences in life. The intense relationship has raised between diverse groups of people, ultimately forming separation between them. In the novel “The Outsiders” by S.E Hinton, the division of social classes creates conflicts against two opposing groups, demonstrates the relationship between characters, and enriches Ponyboy’s identity as a greaser. Firstly, the theme of social divide developed through conflicts between two opposing gangs, the Socials and Greasers. When Ponyboy and Johnny were chatting with Cherry in the Cinema, Cherry, a member of the Socials, mentioned the differences between them: “You Greasers have a different set of values. You are more emotional, we are sophisticated—cool to the point” (Hinton #38). The quote demonstrated the cause of the rival between two opposing group. Their differences in social classes and …show more content…
values lead them to fight against each other. Two groups would never get along with each other considering their identity as a member in the gang. Greasers and Socials were supposed to be enemies. Therefore, potential conflicts between two gangs enhance the theme of social divide in the novel. Additionally, relationship between Socials and Greasers further develops the theme of social divide.
After Ponyboy ran out of the house, he decided to cool down and went for a walk with Johnny. Unfortunately, they were caught by a group of Socials and were trapped in an extremely dangerous situation: “You know what Greasers is? White trash with long hair…You know what a Socials is? White trash with Mustangs and madras” (Hinton #55). The conversation between Ponyboy and the leader of Socials showed their terrible relationship. Socials got mad at Greasers for stepping on their territory. They insulted them using sarcastic languages, and attempted to beat them up. Nevertheless, the Greasers were not afraid at them, yelled back with hatred instead. Ultimately, fight and violence were inevitable for them to express hatred and anger. Rival between the Greasers and Socials would never terminate because they hate each other so much. The division of social classes can be seen from the relationship between
characters. Furthermore, social divide builds up Ponyboy’s identity, and further influences his personality as well. When Darry asked Ponyboy whether joined the rumble or not, Ponyboy answered with confidence: “I’ve got to be in it. Right then the most important thing in my life was helping us whip the Socials. I’ve got to be in it.” (Hinton #74). Ponyboy views himself as a greaser, willing to assist his gang and fight against Socials. He is not tough at all, but being a greaser turns him to become brave. Ponyboy was influenced by his brother who were tougher than him. His character potentially changes while he is getting along with the gang. Furthermore, his self-awareness of being a part of the gang also encourages him to alter. Greasers are supposed to stand out and support their brothers. Social divide emphasizes the identity of Ponyboy, and inspires him to change. Opposition between the gangs, relationship of different characters, and changes in Ponyboy’s identity clearly depict the theme of social divide. Separation between the Socials and Greasers is unavoidable considering their differences in social status, moral, and behavior. Their identity as a gang member and care for brothers force them to maintain their way of life. Socials and Greasers would not betray their brothers and gang. This unbreakable law under gangs restrains their life, framing their characters, and more importantly causes the rival become permanent.
The book The Outsiders is the realistic story about this between two very different groups in a town in the United States: the poor Greasers from the east side, and the Socs, whitch is what the greasers call the socials, the richer boys from the other side of the town. Ponyboy Curtis is the narrator of the story, a 14-year-old boy who lives with his two older brothers, Darry and Soda. He is a pretty good athlete and student, but is not treated the same as the richer students at his school. Ponyboy uses to have long hair that he greases back, a symbol of being in the outsider gang. He is unhappy with his situation, because Darry is too protective of him and he always has to be afraid of Socs attacking him.
Stereotyping is a constant theme throughout The Outsiders. It may seem as if the Greasers are the ones that really have to deal with presumptions, but the Socs also have quite a bit of stereotyping to deal with. While the outside world tries to force these stereotypes onto the gangs, they also tend to assume things about each other. This leads to divisions between them that most likely would not exist if stereotyping was not so abundant. The Greasers are pegged as nasty hoodlum troublemakers that are dropouts and criminals. On the other hand, the Socs are made out to be the opposite- crisp, intelligent young adults that have no real problems. Many cases of stereotyping between the two groups leads to violence between them.
Conflicts are present in everyday life, whether they are at work, school, or at home. Some people may have worse conflicts than others depending on their environment and surroundings. In “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton, Ponyboy and his friends face many different types of conflicts because of who other people think they are and their position in society. They are from the East Side of New York and are called “greasers”, or poor, by the wealthier people. The characters in “The Outsiders” overcome conflicts that are out of their control, like “Man vs. Society”, “Man vs. Self” and “Man vs. Man”.
Greasers were the lowest among the society. The society had negative thoughts towards Greasers, because there were not many things people expected from the Greasers other than doing bad things such as stealing, having rumble, and other bad things that happened around the society. Not every Greaser does bad things, however, the Greasers took the blame for anything bad even if it was the Socs fault. It is because everyone expected the Greasers to do bad things instead of the Socs. Even though the Greasers had a bad reputation, they didn’t care, but instead they enjoyed their lives. Sometimes the Greasers do bad things but only for fun and because it was the society’s expectations. If the Greasers did something good, no one would expect or believe the Greasers did it. No one would ever expect the Greasers to be heroes, just like the man whose kids were saved by Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dallas. “’Mrs. O’Briant and I think you were sent straight from heaven. Or are you just professional heroes or something?’ Sent from heaven? Had he gotten look at Dallas? ‘No, we’re greasers.’” (Page...
In the outsiders we learn that the Greasers and the Socs aren't so different because they feel the same way about teenage issues. Both Greasers and Socs want the other one gone. They both wants what’s best for their gang.They both feel the same about issues. In the beginning of the story the Socs and the Greasers seemed like totally different people, and I thought the Socs were just rich snobs and the Greasers were just hoodlums. In the Middle of the Story Randy confronts Soda and tells him that he doesn’t want to fight and that he’s sick of all the fighting. At the end of the story the Greasers and the Socs kind of make peace because they both lost friends just because of all they’re fighting and they realized that all of this fighting is
Dally is mocking a Soc named Cherry, calling her ‘fiery’ and saying that’s how he likes girls. He then proceeds to put his arm around her, when Johnny, who idolizes Dally, stops him and says, “Leave her alone, Dally.” (Hinton 24) This dismisses two stereotypes about Johnny, that he is a ‘lost puppy’ who needs the rest of the group to defend him, and that Greasers shouldn't care what happens to Socs. This is significant because it shows Pony that Johnny is stronger than he thought before, and that he might be as caring and thoughtful as Ponyboy is. Later in the book, Randy, a Soc, is talking to Ponyboy about Bob, Randy's best friend who Johnny killed to save Ponyboy's life. Randy tells Ponyboy that all Bob wanted was for his parents to get him in trouble. Randy then dismisses the conversation about Bob by saying, “I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I couldn't tell anyone else.” (Hinton 116) This is invalidating the stereotype that Socs and Greasers have nothing in common, and should hate each other. Randy and Ponyboy in particular, considering that Ponyboy was there the night Randy’s best friend died. This matters because it is showing that Socs and Greasers might be able to understand each other better than people within their own group, although they are stereotyped to be complete
Greasers are real people just like Socs, but they do not fit in as easily. They feel as though they don’t belong anywhere. Or in other words, they are outsiders. Hence the title name. Ponyboy especially feels like this due to the fact that he does not fit in very well with Socs or Greasers. The rest of Pony’s gang feels more like the fit as Greasers. In conclusion, the title of the novel fits with the theme because they do not fit in anywhere, and they are outsiders.
In the book The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy, along with his brothers and friends, has to face the daily struggles of being a greaser among the Socs. This fiction book focused on Ponyboy’s life and the problems he ran into with the Socs. He and his gang of friends had fights with the Socs that happened often, and had to deal with a Soc being killed by one of the Greasers, though it was an act of self defense. The three topics addressed in this intriguing novel are the fight between rich and poor, the power of friendship, and what it means to be a hero.
In S.E. Hinton’s book, The Outsiders, children born on the wrong side of town grow up to be juvenile, teenage hoods. In this book, these teenage delinquents are the Greasers, whose only "rival" is the Socials, or "Socs," as an abbreviation. The characters within The Outsiders unmistakably choose a remote. lifestyle of juvenile delinquency and crime. Ilanna Sharon Mandel wrote an article called, "What Causes Juvenile Delinquency?" This editorial presents many circumstances that can be applied to the main character, or protagonist, Ponyboy Michael Curtis and his brothers, friends, and neighbors. Their behavior may not always lead them to the right side of the law, but it is the cause of juvenile delinquency that gets them in. trouble.
In the book The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, the lower-class, known as the Greasers, and the upper-class, known as Socs, deal with the animosity and daily struggles they have with each other. The novel focuses on the struggles and experiences with being an outsider to society and coping with the rich side of town through Ponyboy’s eyes. His life changes when tensions rise and many tragic things happen to the Greasers and Socs that will create agony in many but heroes in a few. The three topics addressed in this compelling novel are the fight between the rich and the poor, the power of friendship, and what it means to be a hero.
Why is humanity so divided in society today? This doesn't always happen because of hatred, most of the time the division is because of small differences. Eventually so many people decide to choose a side it forms social groups and creates social classes which separate people. The young adult fiction novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton exhibits this very well with the Greasers and the Socials hating each other because of their minor differences. The Greasers being from the East side of Tulsa Oklahoma, “means” that they are lower class and not as cool. While on the other side of town, the West side, the Socs flood the place with there high class attitudes and wealth.
Isolation; the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated. Though easily defined, Dallas Winston in S.E. Hinton’s text, “the Outsiders”, gave it such an extent of profundity--that which cannot be described by words and reaches far beyond the feeble grasp of definition--so as to aspire to isolate himself from life itself. And in Dally’s isolation, Johnny was the glue that held him together when he was falling apart.
Typically, greasers are depicted as people similar to hoods, as Ponyboy states, "Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while" (Hinton 4). Yet, even though Ponyboy is a greaser, he avoids getting into trouble for the sake of staying together with his family. He explains that, "I don't mean I do things like that... Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us get to stay together only as long as we behave. So Soda and I stay out of trouble as much as we can, and we're careful not to get caught when we can't" (Hinton 4). Alternatively, Pony also enjoys activities such as reading and watching movies. Even simpler things, such as sunsets and clouds, are something he found beauty and enjoyment in. This sets him apart from the greasers because according to Pony, he states that, "And nobody in our gang digs movies and books the way I do" (Hinton 3). Since nobody other than Ponyboy himself shares the enjoyment of these particular pastimes, which is drastically different from pursuits such as shoplifting and fighting in rumbles, Ponyboy is divergent from the standard attributes of the greasers. Therefore, Ponyboy is a thoughtful and dreamy individual who holds different interests and aspirations than the
The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, a wonderful, modern novel about social divisions causing conflict in society, describes a group, the greasers, feeling like outcasts because of the constant pressure and ridicule put on them by a different group, the Socs. The greasers, typical middle-to-lower class citizens living in Oklahoma, constantly fear encountering the Socs, upper-class socialites, because of the constant need for the Socs to feel more powerful. The Socs believe the greasers are the outcasts; however, the greasers sometimes believe the Socs are the outcasts, when the Socs come to the greasers’ side of the town. In the beginning of the novel Ponyboy Curtis appears as the outcast of the greasers because he succeeds in academics. Livin...
In S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders Socs and Greasers are enemies. Society put them against each other and labeled them. Greasers are the poor, dirty, no-good kids that nobody wants around. Socs are stuck-up, perfect, rich kids who looks down on everybody. In the book, two boys- Johnny and Ponyboy- start some trouble with a couple of Socs, and Bob is killed. They have to run from the police, all while the tension between Greasers and Socs is thicker than ever. Throughout the novel, it explains how “things are rough all over”. The Greasers have it the worse because they feel emotions so harshly, they are constantly getting jumped by the Socs, and they only have each other because their families are broken.