The Outsiders Essay

The novel The Outsiders, written by S.E.Hinton, exhibits a very distinguished concept regarding society, and the way the community articulates with the lifestyles of the two very distinct and different social classes: Socs and Greasers. The Socs are the " west side rich kids," while, on the other hand, there are the greasers - the poor hoods; although mischievous behaviour isn't exclusive for only greasers, the socs had their share of disruptive activities in the community, and yet, the greasers are the primary owners of the label of "a menace to society.". Throughout the book, the title of a greaser or a soc isn't only classified with the individual's attitude but also with their definite appearance, of which everyone understood the precise

criteria. It is not possible to be both a greaser and a soc; this would be like two worlds colliding, and, as such, these two groups are constantly battling each other in order to determine who is the greatest. The class war between "grease" and "soc" is an unavoidable one, and everyone accepts that, but in the duration of the book, Ponyboy, the main character in the novel, through meetings with a soc named Cherry Valance, realizes that these differences are really just the unnecessary distinctions that are installed into society, and that the foundations of both the classes are ultimately the same. This form of society encourages negative behavior, especially since both classes don't seem to realize that they are not very different at all. The labels are defined by the actions and appearances of which both classes are accustomed to, but despite the fact that everyone has developed such means of differentiation between a "soc" and a "grease, it is essential to acknowledge the similarities between the two classes, and the fact that at the end of the day, they all see the same sunset.

Hinton has established these social distinctions by setting the unchanging standards of the looks and actions of the two classes.

The protagonist, Ponyboy, asserts that "...most greasers do things like that, just like we wear our hair long and dress in blue jeans and T-shirts, or leave our shirttails out and wear leather jackets and tennis shoes or boots." Accordingly, a major clue to a greaser's existence is their conspicuous long greasy hair, in addition to their blue jeans, t-shirts and leather jackets, which is quite the contrary of the socs way of life as Ponyboy describes it."...good grades, good cars, good girls, madras and Mustangs, and Corvairs---" The socs, in contrast to the greasers, sustain a more admirable appearance riding in Mustangs and Corvairs and dressing in madras shirts and even associating with the prettiest girls. " Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I'd consider myself lucky." The envy is understandable, especially when any crimes committed by the socs are more likely to be excused than if the same crimes are committed by the greasers. For the same reason, in society, greasers are known as being a violation to society, even when the socs are just as reckless. Even with this stain on their reputation, it is seen as though the greasers not only accept this status but in fact take pride in it. ''I am a JD and a hood. I blacken the name of our fair city... I am a menace to society. Man, do I have

fun.'"

These differences induce disagreement and rivalry between the two classes. Both classes are so different that the idea of co-existing seems too bizarre to even consider, and if co-existing isn't an option then battle becomes the immediate solution. Ponyboy, like the rest of his gang, are aware of the violence the socs are capable of, and so greasers have to be very cautious as they are more likely to be defending than the ones attacking. "Greasers can't walk alone too much or they'll get jumped...We get jumped by the Socs." Socs are regularly assaulting greasers, mostly for entertainment, but they also use their position in society to justify the assaults, while the greasers hope to scare them enough so they wouldn't attempt to challenge them in the first place. It would be difficult to blame one of them, as there's really not a clear origin to this violence, but it's clear that the rambling revolves in a cycle of aggravating and challenging the reputation of both classes. It's as if they know all the dissimilarities between them and continue to enforce them but remain oblivious to the fact that they are quite similar, as they constantly fight to show each other up.

The novel has given an insight to the differences between the two main classes, and also the results of these distinctions, but Hinton has also explored the various similarities between the two. The constraints set by the stereotypes that are placed on both the socs and the greasers account for a lot of pressure. With no regard of which group one might be a part of, the burden to sustain a specific image is nerve-racking. Unquestionably, some socs feel that instead of it being a burden, being a soc is a reward, but some like Cherry Valance feel otherwise: "'We're sophisticated--- cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us. You know, sometimes I'll catch myself talking to a girl-friend, and realize I don't mean half of what I'm saying.' " Likewise, for the greasers, being educated and sophisticated would strictly go against those constraints, and with that Ponyboy - a teen with a great IQ - always feels out of place for not conforming under pressure. Moreover, both classes fell that the stereotypes are wrong as they dictate the actions of everyone in the group, and don't recognize the unique individuals like soc Cherry Valance, or even Ponyboy who deserve an identity separate from just "greaser" or "soc". In a conversation with Cherry, Ponyboy realizes that all the socs aren't like the inhumane people the greasers know them as, and Pony explains that not all the greasers are like how the socs perceive them as, they aren't all like Dally, a greaser who fights for entertainment. Contrary to what the greasers believe, both classes, even the socs, go through many hardships themselves, as Cherry explains herself.. "'I'll bet you think the Socs have it made. The rich kids, the West-side Socs. I'll tell you something,... We have troubles you've never even heard of...Things are rough all over.'" The socs, just like the greasers, face many difficulties in life underneath all the cars and the clothes. Like Cherry said... "Things are rough all over."

The standard differences in the clothing and the behaviour of the socs and the greasers contribute to rising conflicts between the two classes, but if they were to see life in the other's shoes they'd know that the two aren't very different at all.

The differences between them are differences between everyone, but they have managed to make them so distinct that rivalry seems like the only choice. The greasers see the socs with their expensive cars and fancy clothing, but are completely ignorant to the hardships in the socs' life, the greasers are left feeling envious but at the end they all have problems in their life, only, some are more visible than others. Ponyboy feels that the greasers have stereotypes that they have to abide by, even though these "criminals" once saved kids from a fire, they are referred to as a menace to society. This is an unfair title especially when it applies to everyone in the group. Exactly like that, Cherry, a soc who hates violence and enjoys the simple things in life like sunsets, is the complete opposite of the image the greasers hold of her. Both classes are weighed down by the standards and the criteria designated to each of them, and they both are trudging through difficult waters maintaining their individual identity when society tells them otherwise. They are so invested in keeping both classes separate, that they don't realize they both are going through the same thing, and that the conflict between them is unnecessary. Both classes

lost important people because of these senseless fights, further proving the impracticality of them. The distinctions are also worthless. Separating people because of how much paper is in one's wallet is absurd, especially when lives are at stake. The contrast between the two classes have became the basis of new dimensions, each have a whole new universe that they distinctly belong to, and there is no middle ground. But, as Ponyboy eventually realized..."Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren't so different. We saw the same sunset."