Stay Gold Ponyboy Research Paper

Two boys, Johnny Cade and Ponyboy Curtis were sitting by a fountain in the park near their homes after a heated argument went physical. Angry and upset, Ponyboy ran off, taking Johnny with him. After a seven block run, the pair stopped in the park. At around 2:30am, a blue mustang circled the area, until five drunken teens stumbled out heading towards Johnny and Ponyboy. They closed in on them, leaving them unable to run.

Furthermore, Hinton explores the theme of staying true to oneself in this quote,”When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home.” (180) This quote not only demonstrates the theme of staying true to oneself but also uses the first line of the novel as the last line to show the character development of Ponyboy. As the novel progresses, we see Ponyboy as the “outsider” in the gang with instances such as how Ponyboy fought for self-defense only whereas the rest of the gang fought for enjoyment or because they wanted to. Moreover, Hinton uses this quote, “Stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold.” (148) to also exemplify the theme. In this quote, Johnny tells Ponyboy to “stay gold” meaning Ponyboy should always be himself and not let anyone change him otherwise. “Gold” in this context means purity and goodness in which Johnny hopes that Ponyboy will continue to pursue his dreams and see the good in the world. As a result, although Ponyboy experienced hardships in his life, he still stays pure and is not influenced by the malevolent environment around

 Before he died, he was attacked by a Soc, Johnny almost died after the Soc attacked him but the Greasers came and saved him.  That is another reason why being with the Greasers is a life accomplishment because they help you when you need help.  Johnny is quiet, but when he needs to talks, he will talk when he is protecting someone.  The Greasers don’t scare him because he was attacked by a Soc and every time they scare him, he remembers what happened to him.  The Greasers think of Johnny as a lost puppy in a

Ponyboy and Johnny freed each and every child by dropping them through an open window in the burning church that led to the outside. When each innocent life was saved, the roof started to collapse onto itself trapping the two young and brave heroes inside

The last very important thing Ponyboy learns is that staying innocent or staying gold is very important and like johnny says in his last breaths , it's essential in his life. The greasers are used to fighting and arguing to solve their problems. Ponyboy learns that fighting doesn't solve issues , it only makes it worse.

While at a movie theater, Dally is antagonizing and annoying several Soc girls. Johnny stands up to Dally, his hero, and states, “‘Leave her alone, Dally.’ ‘Huh?’ Dally was taken off guard. He stared at Johnny in disbelief. Johnny couldn't say ‘Boo’ to a goose. Johnny gulped and got a little pale, but he said, ‘You heard me. Leave her alone’” (24). It took all of Johnny’s bravery to stand up to his absolute idol. He was willing to stand up to a dangerous boy that could easily defeat him in a fight, to save others. Not only this, but when a church is burning down with children inside, Ponyboy states, ”Johnny wasn't behaving at all like his old self. ... he grinned at me. He wasn't scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes” (92). Johnny gives his own life for kids who have futures. He charges into the church at full speed when necessary. Johnny becomes brave in the middle of the

In many places of The Outsiders, Hinton included chunks of “Nothing Gold Can Stay”. The first time that readers saw the writing was in Chapter 5, Page 77. Pony was recalling a time when he first heard that poem; he remembered it since Johnny and Pony were talking about sunsets and how it is, “too bad that

As the novel progresses, Ponyboy was hit by Darry and he had run away and hung out with johnny because he dosen’t exactly have the greatest home. So they were hanging out when some Socs showed up and stared to drown Ponyboy and he had pasted out and johnny had stabed one of the Socs so they wouldn’t kill Ponyboy. When Ponyboy woke up he had seen what had happen and they ran away things like he not caring

Fast forwarding to the part in the church, Johnny had run into the church for two reasons. One is that he wanted to help and the other is that he was going to keep Ponyboy safe no matter what happened and he did a great job of it.

When Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dally got back to the church, they optically discerned flames shooting up into the air like bullets. They realized it was emanating from the church and there were kids inside, they went in to preserve the little children in the ignited church. “One was screaming his head off, and Johnny yelled, “Shut up! We’re goin’ to get you out!” (92) When Johnny went inside to preserve the children, he was exhibiting heroics and intrepidness. Johnny was going to do anything to preserve those children, even if he might die. He put the incognito children's lives in front of his own. Johnny is a hero because he preserved lives and didn’t care if he got hurt. In that moment of mugginess and burns, he was the most munificent one

Towards the middle of the story, a boy named Johnny had killed a Soc that was drowning Ponyboy. He and Ponyboy fled the city to another town, and hid in an abandon church there for a week. When they were going to leave, they realized the church was on fire and there was kids trapped inside. Johnny and Pony were good friends and they decided to go help the children. After they rescued the children, they had to escape the burning, ravaged building. A flaming, steaming hot beam from the ceiling fell on Johnny. After this happened, Pony passed out, “ I leaped out the window and heard timber crashing and the flames roaring right behind me. I staggered, almost

Gold is a clear symbol of Ponyboy throughout the story. Gold is a symbol because Johnny’s last words were “Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold...” Ponyboy also got a note saying “stay gold”, one way this could be a symbol is saying to be yourself and never let anyone change you no matter what. Johnny believed in Ponyboy, that he could always be himself, that he would never be changed by all the outside forces. Every moment is precious, don’t waste it. The symbol gold made people

Johnny shocks Dally by telling him he wants to go back home and confess to his crime. Dally tries to change Johnny’s mind, convincing him not to because if he does he will be going to prison and dally doesn’t want Johnny to see him in prison. Johnny is points out that his own parents would not care what ever happens to him, but Ponyboy’s brothers care about him and don’t want to see him like that. Swearing under his breath, Dally begins to drive Johnny and Ponyboy home. As they drive past the church where Ponyboy and Johnny had been staying, they see that it is on fire. Ponyboy thinks he and Johnny must have started the fire with a cigarette butt, so the boys jump out of the car to check out the fire. When Ponyboy wakes, he is in an ambulance,

The reporters and police interview Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry in the hospital waiting room. Sodapop jokes with the reporters and hospital staff. The doctors finally come and say that Dally will be fine but that Johnny’s back was broken when the roof caved in. Even if Johnny survives, they add, he will be permanently disabled. The next morning, Ponyboy is making breakfast when Steve Randle (Sodapop’s best friend) and Two-Bit come in with the morning newspaper. The papers draw Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally as heroes for rescuing the schoolchildren. They also mention Ponyboy’s excellent performance on the track team, in school. The papers mention that the state will charge Johnny with manslaughter and send both Ponyboy and Johnny to juvenile court.