preview

Class Conflict In The Outsiders

Decent Essays
Have you ever had a simple feud between peers, or even close friends? Imagine if you had a fight over social classes, would it be worse? S.E. Hinton, the author of the 1967 novel, The Outsiders, uses unique characters, symbols, and hectic events to prove that class conflict is pointless, unwarranted, and destructive. In the novel, fictional characters are brought to life by the author, as she connects and compares their taxing lifestyle to that of the reader. Using 14 year old boy, Ponyboy Curtis who is a greaser who has it fairly bad, living with only his brothers after his parents dies in a tragic car accident, Hinton shows that it’s tough all over, no matter your social status. Ponyboy can only rely on Sodapop and Darry, and the rest of the gang. The author displays class conflict throughout the book, by using the ‘socs, or ,the rich kids with mustangs and madras, showing that this dispute, between the greasers and socs, does not make life any easier. The Outsiders uncovers that blood, may not be thicker than water, after all. Hinton created unique characters to display her overall theme of the book. Ponyboy Curtis is the protagonist in The Outsiders. Hinton shows Pony as a young greaser who doesn’t use his head much, unless it is for books or movies. Although not much has happened in his life as a greaser, a lot has happened to his fellow greasers. For example, Johnny Cade; the boy who had a horrible home life, came searching for a gang to fill the hole where his family
Get Access