How Is The Outsiders Point Of View

The entire book is about Ponyboy against other greasers and Socs. The terms greaser and Soc are used for the kids who live on the east and west side. “Ponyboy . . . I mean . . . if I see you in the hall at school or someplace and don’t say hi, well, it’s not personal or anything, but . .(Hilton 45).” Cherry didn’t want to say hi to Ponyboy if she saw him because she is a Soc and he is a greaser. In fact none of the greasers or Socs said hi to each other. Society played a large role in this book by separating the Socs and the greasers.

Sherry Valance, a 16 year-old Soc, who goes by the name Cherry, influenced Ponyboy not just a little, but caused him to ponder about the meaning behind all the rivalry between the Socs and the Greasers. Hate between the Socs, the rich kids of the west side, and the Greasers, the poor kids from the east side, has always existed. Beforehand, Ponyboy greatly disliked the Socs, for they continually jumped and attacked Greasers. He always regarded them as an enemy. However, that one night when Ponyboy Curtis clashed with Sherry Valance, she demonstrated that not all Socs were malevolent and self-centered. While conversing with Cherry, Ponyboy felt her empathy and understanding and softened towards her. She talked about her boyfriend, Bob, and how he

He brings Ponyboy to his car to talk about the rumble and other things. Randy, who appears to be a tough Soc, explains to Ponyboy that a rumble isn’t necessary and that he wouldn’t be going to it. After they were done talking, he realizes that not all Socs were mean to greasers. They could have appeared to look cold and cruel, but on the inside some of them were nice. Ponyboy thinks later, “Socs were just guys after all. Things were rough all over, but it was better that way. That way you could tell the other guy was human too.” (Hinton 118). After this event, Ponyboy learns that everyone may seem to stick to his or her own group of people, like Socs or greasers, but it doesn’t mean that person has the traits of his or her group only. No two people have the exact same personalities, so people in the same group aren’t exactly like each other.

" All of Ponyboy's greaser pals--including his brothers--seem to understand that Pony is not like the rest of them. Ponyboy excels at school: He garners good grades, likes to write, and is a member of the track team. His friends all know that Pony has a chance to make it out of town, go to college and make something of himself. The other greasers have already given up on ever rising above their economic and social status: Soda has dropped out of school, Darry works two jobs, and Johnny has adapted to life on the streets; Two-Bit, Steve and Dally are already well on their way to becoming legitimate hoods.

With the title “The Outsiders,” S.E. Hinton is trying to say that everyone feels like an outsider in their own way, no matter what you see on the outsider. In using this title, Hinton is referring to many different characters, but for the most part she is talking about Ponyboy and how he feels. When the readers read this book, she wants them to remember that you’re not alone, and that everyone feels like an outsider in their own way at some point. Many characters in this book feel as though they are alone, when all of them are self conscious and afraid of

The Greasers felt like outsiders around the Socs because the Socs were the upper class. Socs were always in advanced classes so when Ponyboy (a greaser) was in biology class filled with Socs , he felt like an outsider. When Ponyboy had to dissect a warm and the razor wouldn’t cut, he took out a switchblade. The girl beside him was a Socs and she sad “They are right, you are a hood” (Doc B). So, when Ponyboy was in an advanced class filled with Socs and when

As Ponyboy states when he starts to understand this, “No, it wasn’t Cherry the Soc who was helping us, it was Cherry the dreamer who watched sunsets and couldn’t stand fights.” (Hinton 86). Ponyboy was previously under the impression that all Socs didn’t care about anything, and was surprised when he met Cherry, a Soc who watched the same sunset as he did. The stereotype of Socs being heartless and cruel was all he had seen and heard, so it was hard for him to understand how one could be so different. Ponyboy’s friends felt similarly, and most of them found it even harder to grasp this concept than Ponyboy had. The Greasers were used to judging the Socs as a group, and did not see them as individuals. These group stereotypes are what ultimately caused most of the biggest fights in the novel.

In this quote Cherry is telling Ponyboy that Socs aren’t all rich snobbish jerks that get whatever they want, ‘“All Socs aren’t like that,”she said.”You have to believe me, Ponyboy. Not all of us are like that.” “Sure,” I said. “That’s like saying all you greasers are like Dallas Winston. I’ll bet he’s jumped a few people.” I digested that. It was true.’ (Hinton 34). In this part of the book, Ponyboy learns that his stereotypes that he has been forming over the year are proving to only be half right. Cherry reveals that over on the Socs side, it’s rough over

Ponyboy is a Greaser. “Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old-souped up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while. I don't mean I do things like that” (S.E Hinton 3) However, Ponyboy doesn't accept the Greaser life. He doesn't accept the poor lifestyle he lives in, and the mistreatment he receives. Ponyboy believes Greasers have “all the rough breaks” (S.E Hinton) Ranging from his parents deaths, to financial conditions, to the deaths of his friends life is unfair to Ponyboy. However, is life really that horrible for Greasers? Cherry Valence, a Soc cheerleader who befriends Ponyboy says otherwise. “Things are rough all over” (S.E Hinton 35) Cherry is making the point to Ponyboy that everyone, no matter the amount of money they have, has difficulties. It may not be the same type of problems, but everyone has some type of

While she is talking to Ponyboy near Two-Bit’s house, Ponyboy and Her have a discussion, “‘No’, Cherry said slowly when I said this. “‘It’s not just money. Part of it is, but not all. You greasers have different set of values.’” (38). Hinton starts to reveal that possibly not all Soc’s are bad, but Cherry says even more, “‘You’re more emotional. 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 girlfriend, and realize I don’t mean half of what I’m saying. I don’t really think a beer blast on the river bottom is super-cool, but I’ll rave about one to a girlfriend just to be saying something.’” (38). Cherry Valance, a Soc is just trying to fit in and she’s not like herself half of the time. Cherry also says, “‘Did you ever hear of having more than you wanted? So that couldn’t want anything else and then start looking for something else to want? It seems like we’re always searching for something to satisfy us, and never finding it. Maybe if we could lose our cool we could’” (38). Hinton wants to tell readers that Greasers and Socs aren’t always so different. Greasers have it rough with being the underdogs and being treated bad, Socs have it rough because sometimes they get to much of what they want and it doesn’t satisfy them, they try to lose their cool but it’s hard too. Regardless of the social group, people will

The amount of money someone has, the neighborhood someone lives in, and the school someone goes to does not determine their opinions, ideas, or dreams. Pony lives in a somewhat run-down neighborhood, and he, Darry, and Sodapop don’t have much, but they and their friends still try to be happy, and enjoy life when they can. Unlike the Socs, the Greasers are a family. If one of them gets shot at, four more of them jump out to protect them. “ “It’s not just money. Part of it is, but not all. You Greasers have a different set of values. You’re more emotional. We’re sophisticated - cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us.” Cherry Valance is a Soc girl, but according to Pony, she isn’t exactly a Soc because she doesn’t chose to see sides like other Socs. She sees Socs as people who don’t feel. Life is good enough for them that things get repetitive and boring, which is probably part of why the Socs enjoy jumping Greasers. The Greasers, on the other hand, don’t have consistent lives. Only a few of them are in school, not all of them have jobs, and they’re always getting into just enough trouble to keep themselves alive, which is why they seem to have more emotions than the Socs. The two groups are so different, and, in retrospect, it’s all because of money. Money could solve almost all of the Greasers’ problems, like by earning them some respect, and it would mean they don’t have to work so hard to get by. When Cherry explains to Pony that Socs have troubles, just like the Greasers, he can’t imagine what kind of troubles they could possibly have, but he quickly learned. All Bob Sheldon wanted was for someone to tell him no, and when someone did it ended up costing him his life.

As a young adult, it is difficult to grow up without parents and still be tough and brave. In addition, teens can be emotional and overreact at times. In the novel The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton, a fourteen-year-old kid named Ponyboy Curtis feels different emotions that make him stand out from other Greasers, or “hoodlums”. Ponyboy, the youngest of all the Greasers, is a great example of a teen who feels isolated, brave, and emotional throughout the novel.

The story The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, was a popular novel because of how realistic it was. The novel was successful because it included famous people and items from the 1960s. These items allowed for people to read the story and make connections. One of the topics that was referenced in the book was Perry Mason. Perry Mason was a popular television series that made readers understand how Ponyboy viewed the courtroom.

As a result, Pony doesn’t know what the life has a Soc is truly like. He can only assume based on what he sees. As is human nature, Pony readily victimizes himself and views the Socs as savages and as though their lives are perfect. This, of course, prokes a feeling of rage, which in application, is violence. Though isolation, violence is achieved. Later Pony and his Greaser friend Johnny are confronted by a group of Socs among who are Bob and Randy, the boyfriends of two girls Pony and Johnny had hung out with at a movie. In their exchange, their hatred for each other is all too clear to see, "Next time you want a broad, pick up yer own kind--- dirt." I was getting mad. I was hating them enough to lose my head. "You know what a greaser is?" Bob asked. "White trash with long hair..." "You know what a Soc is?" I said, my voice shaking with rage. "White trash with Mustangs and madras." And then, because I couldn't think of anything bad enough to call them, I spit at them” (Hinton, 55). Pony and Johnny knew nothing of these Socs except what stereotypes had told them. Likewise, the Socs were prejudiced and judged Pony and Johnny as scum without knowing them. The Socs go on to almost drown Pony, only to be stopped by Johnny stabbing and killing one of them in defense. Because of the gap and separation between them, that was brought by judging, Pony and Johnny were the other boys and enemies, and thus violence ensued. The same is true in

In the first scene of the film, Ponyboy exits a theatre to what looks like the city center area. As he begins his walk home a mustang filled with Socs see him walking and immediately start insulting him, telling him to wash the grease out of his hair. The torment does not stop there, they follow him throughout town, throwing scrap wood at him and chasing him down the street. It escalated to the point the Socs jump out of the car and takes him down, pointing a switchblade at his neck and cutting him. This type of harassment is normal for Greasers, which is why they never should walk alone. This scene is an example of victim precipitation theory. Ponyboy is an adolescent male with a poor upbringing walking alone, even in broad daylight, he is considered an easy target for the Socs and they know they can get away with it. Another example is when Ponyboy and Johnny decide to run away together, they were spotted by the Socs who had been drinking and looking for easy targets.