Ponyboy's Identity In The Outsiders By S. E. Hinton

In the book the outsiders Ponyboy is the main character. He is mainly distinctive from the rest of the characters by his physical traits and by his actions. Ponyboy was harassed several times by the Socs just because he was a greaser. Overall Ponyboy didn't use his head before he his actions. It caused him to get into many accidents such as when he was jumped in the beginning of the story because he walking home from the movie theaters by himself. Not only did Ponyboy not use his head he also was altruistic. An example of this is when he ran into the burning church to save kids even though it could have killed him.

The biggest influence in shaping ponyboy’s identity was his quest to find where he belonged, because throughout the book readers learn ,along with him, how he is different than the other greasers and how he doesn’t act or think like they do. The first example of this is in the first chapter when the readers meet Ponyboy and he tells them about the gang and his friends and family and then he says, “For a while there, I thought I was the only person in the world that did,” after explaining how he has different interests than the people around him (Hinton 2). This leads him to feel like an outsider and makes him feel like he doesn’t belong and that he is different from the socs and the greasers. In chapter 5, Johnny tells ponyboy how he couldn’t talk about things like sunsets around the rest of the gang, and he also tells Johnny, “You ain’t like any of the gang (78).” This shows how Ponyboy is not alone in feeling like an

While Ponyboy was being drowned by Bob, a Soc, Johnny take out his knife and kills Bob. Looking to not get caught, Johnny and Ponyboy go to Dallas for advice. He tells them to take a train to Windrixville, and hide in an old abandoned church until he tells them the coast is clear. Later in the church Johnny gets an idea. “Were gonna cut our hair, and your gonna bleach yours”(S.E Hinton 71) Hair is everything to greasers. “Maybe we couldn't have Corvairs or Madras shirts, but we could have hair”(S.E Hinton 71) Ponyboy is not happy with being labeled as a Greaser. However, after he cuts of his hair, the one thing that labels him, Ponyboy will be neither a Soc or Greaser. Life is only getting harder for Ponyboy. After some times passes, a fire takes place at the church. Dallas, Johnny, and Ponyboy are all injured. No doubt, Ponyboy is reflecting back to what happened the night of Bob's death. Perhaps he may be thinking ‘If only the Socs would leave Greasers alone, none of this would have happened’ With Johnny in critical condition, he is not expected to

In the outsiders, the first chapter introduces the main character, Ponyboy and gives a short history about him and his family. He designates the difference between the relationships between the members in his gang, and the relationship between both of his brothers. His parents were killed in a car accident, so that’s why he was just left alone to live with his older 2 brothers.

He also starts off as The Innocent, hopeful for a better future and seeing the good in everyone. On page 26 he says, “I didn’t get why we talk about girls in that way,’ which is showing how even though he’s tough he is still young and innocent and doesn’t get why his gang talks dirty about women’ Also like Dara, Ponyboy’s archetype changes to The Loner or Outcast and he loses his hope. After Johnny kills a Soc to protect him, they go on the run from the police. They hide out in an abandoned church away from their families and society. On page 63 it says “he must have been as homesick as I was” showing how Ponyboy wants to go back to his family. Again, this also shows the theme of The Outsiders. Even though he’s a greaser and on the bad side of society’s view, Ponyboy is really only an outsider when he is without his family and gang. Following Dara, after Johnny’s death, Ponyboy becomes The Hero. On page 145 the text states “ ‘Yessir,’ I said, ‘I'll try. What's the theme supposed to be on?’ ‘Anything you think is important enough to write about. And it isn't a reference theme; I want your own ideas and your own experiences’.” Ponyboy then writes a theme paper based on Johnny’s life, letting everyone know what they’ve gone through. He has an honorable purpose, allowing him to be The Hero. Ponyboy also faces a great deal of problems, although his are not the same as Dara’s. Like her, he is also driven from his home and placed in an intense war. Unlike her, his war is of the social classes and not countries. While Dara must overcome her fears, Ponyboy must discover who he is as a person and who he wants to

In The Outsiders, Ponyboy is stereotyped as a violent, stupid greaser. Greasers are stereotyped as delinquents, getting their name from the amount of hair oil in their hair. You're automatically a thug if you wear leather jackets, are rather greasy, and live in a poor neighborhood, according to his society. Greasers are teased and looked down upon by the socs, who are rich spoiled kids. When somebody sees a greaser, they run the other way. But Pony is so much more than all of that. He is a poetic, thoughtful boy. He doesn’t let anything get him down. He is trying his best to get good grades and be able to go to college, which is something most

Accordingly, society begins to form an understanding of the individual’s circumstances and develops a tolerance and acknowledgment towards them and those facing similar issues, creating a togetherness in the otherwise separate groups in society. As a greaser, Ponyboy experiences many difficulties and obstacles through the novel ‘The Outsiders’. After the dramatic occurrences, Ponyboy decides to write about his experiences as homework for his English class, his intention is depicted in the quote, ‘Someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand them and wouldn't be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore.’ His use of symbolism by representing hair oil as a common trait of a particular group, he refers to the misconceptions society has towards these groups and seeks to establish an understanding between society and himself as well as others experiencing prejudices made by society. Ponyboy describes others in similar situations in this quote, ‘Hundreds of boys who maybe watched sunsets and looked at stars and ached for something better.’

In The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy is introduced and develops as a curious person through his actions. The Outsiders is a novel about a group of boys that are trying to prove that being a greaser means nothing. One part of the novel that shows when Ponyboy was walking home from the movies is when a blue mustang pulls up and out popped a couple of soces and they threatened to cut Ponyboy's throat. Hinton writes, “do you need a haircut greaser” (Hinton 5). In this moment, Ponyboy’s emotions show us that he is scared. Because of this, we can see that part of his personality is his fear of getting jumped by the soces like they did to his friend Johnny. Another part of the novel that shows Ponyboy‘s emotion occurs when Hinton writes, “The

There are a lot stereotypes about gang members that does not relate to Ponyboy in the Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. The definition of stereotypes is “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing” (dictionary.com). Ponyboy is one of the kind in his gang that is very different he is very smart, not violent and he feels deeply. Stereotypes in general lead people down from what they believe or are from what people think they are. In these 3 paragraphs the stereotypes that people thought about him in a gang he is very smart, not violent and feels deeply.

Ponyboy is the herp in the story, The Outsiders by S.E Hinton. Ponyboy throughout the story stands out as a hero many times. Ponyboy is a hero for many things, but most important thing was when he saved the kids from the burning church. Also Ponyboy isa hero because he always cares about Johnny and looks out for him. Ponyboy is a very good person, and is a hero for many reasons.

In the novel, The Outsiders, Ponyboy expresses his feelings in a very poetic way. By doing this, Ponyboy is able to show the reader his true identity: an identity that completely contradicts the stereotype of what society deems to be a greaser.

The theme of chapter five in the story The Outsiders is individual identity. Ponyboy and Johnny are trying to disguise themselves so they do not get caught by the cops. According to the text on page seventy-one, “Johnny sat down and pulled out his knife.”We’re gonna cut our hair and your gonna bleach yours.” Also the fact that they don’t want to get caught because of how they look. “They’ll have our descriptions in the paper. We can’t fit’em.” That tells how much they are thinking

In the beginning of the story ponyboys identity is a nice, loving, gets good grades, doesn’t drink kind of kid. He never wanted to do anything bad to people that’s not what he was about. In the story is says, “I make good grades and have a high IQ and everything, but i don't use my head.” Ponyboy liked school and that was very unusual for a greaser. Normally greaser drop out of school when their first allowed to. What ponyboy is saying by he doesn’t use his head is, even though he does good in school, he still gets in trouble outside of school because he doesn't

“Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us only get to stay together only as long as we behave. So Soda and I stay out of trouble as much as we can (15).” In the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, loyalty is a big deal, but family loyalty the biggest deal of all. The Curtis brothers are apart of a special gang called the Greasers. They all stick together. Ponyboy has developed a personal identity towards other people and how they see him. Ponyboy responds to his identity in the gang by doing what is expected as seen in his thoughts, feelings, and actions.

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