Socs Vs Greasers

Many view the Socs and the Greasers as complete separate groups that are very different in every aspect. But are they really that different after all? In the novel, The Outsiders, Socs are the high class kids who have all the money and can get (do) whatever they want. The Greasers are the lower class teens who barely have enough money to make it through their daily lives. The Greasers are constantly jumped and abused by the Socs, who are in it just for kicks. Most Greasers live in fear and always look behind them when they go from place to place, but they stand up for each other. While Socs live in boredom and not sure what to do next to feed their hunger for pleasure. But, Socs and Greasers do have some similarities. For example, just like

“I went on walking home, thinking about the movie, and then suddenly wishing I had some company. Greasers can't walk alone too much or they'll get jumped, or someone will come by and scream "Greaser!" at them, which doesn't make you feel too hot, if you know what I mean. We get jumped by the Socs. I'm not sure how you spell it, but it's the abbreviation for the Socials, the jet set, the West-side rich kids. It's like the term "greaser," which is used to class all us boys on the East Side.” (The Outsiders,"S.E."Hinton 4) This validates the fact that Greasers don’t usually walk alone, or they have a higher chances of being beat. Furthermore, this also illustrates that they cannot live their lives carefree or worry free, the Greasers have to watch every move they take...and hope it is the right one. “They would have gone with me, or driven me there, or walked along, although Soda just can't sit still long enough to enjoy a movie and they bore Darry to death. Darry thinks his life is enough without

Socs use their time by driving around in their expensive cars looking for Greasers to accuse. “I knew it wasn't any use though--- the fast walking, I mean--- even before the Corvair pulled up beside me and five Socs got out. I got pretty scared--- I'm kind of small for fourteen even though I have a good build, and those guys were bigger than me. I automatically hitched my thumbs in my jeans and slouched, wondering if I could get away if I made a break for it. I remembered Johnny--- his face all cut up and bruised, and I remembered how he had cried when we found him, half-conscious… I could smell English Leather shaving lotion and stale tobacco, and I wondered foolishly if I would suffocate before they did anything” (The Outsiders,"S.E."Hinton 5-6) This shows that the Socs only go after kids smaller than them and have no remorse. Is also proves the fact that they beat up people when they are with their friends to back-them-up, and when they have some tobacco in their mouths. “Substance use, including hard drugs, may be much higher in this privileged group as they binge-drink and use marijuana at rates higher than their matched peer group who are less well-funded.” (A Generation Struggling pg.1) This establishes that the Socs do not always use their money for the right reasons. They usually use them for things that harm them more then better them. This indicates that the Socs are a group of friends that like to harm single kids,