The Outsiders Text Response Essay

580 Words2 Pages

S.E Hinton’s ageless novel, The Outsiders, tells the dramatic story of the main character and protagonist, Ponyboy Curtis, who has to face deadly crimes, enemies (the Socs) and society with his family and gangster friends (the Greasers) to survive. Along with themes of identity and social division, the author uses characters from the novel, both protagonists and antagonists, to provide a balanced reflection of the real-life situations in mid-twentieth century America and in today’s society. The mental differences between the classes, the misjudgement of self-worth, and the Greasers’ difficulty to understand the Socs demonstrate issues within the real teenager society. The emotional difference between the Greasers and the Socs realistically explains what divides the two classes. As the groups live in very different conditions, it is evident that they are at opposite psychological stages; the Greasers, being the poorer gang, are more aggressive as they are always under the heavy pressure of staying standing. Cherry explains carefully: “‘It’s not just money. Part of it is, but not all....

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