The Outsiders, By S. E. Hinton

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Explain how characters’ beliefs and values are shaped by their experiences. By exploring values and beliefs in literature, readers can shape or change their own perspectives on life. In “The Outsiders”, S.E. Hinton illustrates the importance of social conflicts, social injustice, and familial bonds in shaping a person’s beliefs. Set in urban America in the 1960s, the novel displays a society separated by class and inequality, focusing on how these divisions impact the characters’ lives and perspectives. Through these experiences of the greasers and socs, readers can see the power of brotherhood and loyalty, the futility of violence, and the importance of understanding and empathy. Brotherhood and loyalty are two valuable …show more content…

Understanding the futility of violence can be seen in Ponyboy’s behaviour when Johnny killed Bob. In chapter 4, after Johnny killed Bob to protect Ponyboy from being drowned by him, Ponyboy got unconscious. When he got conscious, Johnny told him what had happened. Ponyboy said “A panic was rising in me as I listened to Johnny's quiet voice go on and on. ‘Johnny!’ I nearly screamed. What are we gonna do? They put you in the electric chair for killing people!’ I was shaking. ‘I'm scared, Johnny. What are we gonna do?’” This conveys that Ponyboy is scared and panicked and is facing the consequences and consequences of violence. Hinton illustrates this by showing the impact of Johnny’s words on Ponyboy and the immediate panic he had after it. This experience helped Ponyboy to understand the futility of violence and its impact on his future. Moreover, the futility of violence can be seen in Randy’s behaviour when Ponyboy had a conversation with him. In chapter 7, when Two-bit and Ponyboy stopped at a shop to buy drinks, Randy and his gang pulled in when Randy said he wanted to talk to Ponyboy in his car, where he said "And tonight... people get hurt in rumbles, maybe killed. I'm sick of it because it doesn't do any good. You'll still be where you were before, at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn't do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn't prove a thing... Greasers will still be greasers and Soes will still be Socs..." This conveys that Randy, who is a Socs, has understood the futility of violence after Bob’s death. Hinton is showing this in a conversation with Randy with Ponyboy where he is saying that violence does not change their social status. This means that he has reached a point of understanding that he doesn’t want to continue the rumble. From these character’s experiences, we can learn that not only violence is not always the

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