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The Outsiders Essay

Decent Essays

Throughout the centuries, many separate social classes have clashed just because they have different states of living. Much of our literature, poetry, and film is stained with the sad truth that contempt exists between people groups. Throughout the novel “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton, this idea is very prevalent as the two gangs battle it out only to realize that the only way to make things right is by really trying to understand each other's viewpoints. When social classes are in place, they tend to fight against each other, but the only way to really solve the problem is by putting down the weapons and just accepting one another. In The Outsiders, it is obvious that the two social classes do not enjoy each other’s company, so they …show more content…

As the text says, “Even I [Ponyboy] could feel their hatred. They used to be buddies, I thought, they used to be friends, and now they hate each other just because one has to work for a living and the other comes from the west side” (Hinton, 143). This is striking. These boys could be, and were, good friends but their state of living causes them to throw punches. If Darry had lived on the other side of town, chances are that they would be friends. This is the danger of inevitable social classes. As this fighting continues, though, hopefully these separate classes will come to terms with the fact that punches only make things worse. As the violence ceases, classes can realize that the other class are people too, and treatment gets better. In the book, some of the greasers and even some of the socs come to terms with this idea towards the end of the book. For example, Randy, a seemingly devoted Soc, pulls Ponyboy aside. He proceeds to tell Pony that there is no point in fighting, voicing Pony’s thoughts exactly. They begin to understand each other, realizing the other’s humanity. Randy says that “People get hurt in rumbles [fights], maybe killed. I’m sick of it because it doesn’t do anything” (Hinton, 117). Randy has been in so many fights, all with different outcomes, and he has seen that it does nothing. No matter the outcome, it is obvious that the fighting only makes everything worse. If everyone could realize this, the world would be a better place.

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