All out war, painful deaths, heartfelt tears, and ruthless gangs. These are the prime themes in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Ponyboy Curtis, a dynamic character, the runt of the gang, and narrator of the story describes the war between greasers and socs. Being a greaser, Ponyboy is naturally against the antagonists, the Socs. No matter the time, person, or place, Ponyboy is always gallant. Through the dialogue in the story, it is very clear Ponyboy is brave and heroic. A prime example of this is when the church was on fire. “Oh glory!” he whispered. The church was on fire!...About that time a lady came running up. “Jerry, some of the kids are missing”...I’ll get them, don’t worry!” I started at a dead run for the church, and the man …show more content…
Ponyboy is always ready to step in and help. In the rumble, intense fighting took place, but even before it Ponyboy was in a battle. I don't know if you ought to be in this rumble, Pony," Darry said slowly... "How come? I've always come through before, ain't I?" "Yeah," Darry said with a proud grin. "You fight real good for a kid your size. But you were in shape before. You've lost weight and you don't look so great, kid. You're tensed up too much."... "I'll be okay," I pleaded. "I'll get hold of a little one, okay?" "Well, Johnny won't be there this time…” ---Johnny and I sometimes ganged up on one big guy...” Ponyboy was born into a life where he could have done nothing to help people. He could have been selfish and stayed at home, away from conflict. Yet he never failed to prevail in being valiant. Ponyboy Even when he was sick, he never gave up fighting for what he believed was right. Ponyboy’s reasoning for his actions is pure and …show more content…
Same with The Outsiders. Everything Ponyboy does is for a reason; his motive. Running into a flaming church is unique situation, but Ponyboy did for various reasons. There are several explanations for Ponyboy to run into what could have easily been his death. There is one clear reason why he ran into the fire. Ponyboy believed he started the fire, as he says when the event took place. "We were having a school picnic up here and the first thing we knew, the place is burning up. Thank goodness this is a wet season and the old thing is worthless anyway." Then, to the kids, he shouted, "Stand back, children. The firemen will be coming soon." "I bet we started it," I said to Johnny. "We must have dropped a lighted cigarette or something." When Ponyboy figured out he may have caused a fire he was not concerned. However, when he learned that children were missing, he immediately ran into a blaze of around 1100 degrees Fahrenheit (according to the National Institute of Fire Safety and Training), forgetting the fact that he had always smoked outside the church. After Robert Sheldon (known as Bob) was killed by Johnny, Ponyboy couldn’t bear to see another life lost because of him. Immediately he charged into the fire, fearing only one thing. Others losing their life because of something he may have created.
Johnny would do anything to save his friends. After Dally drove Pony and Johnny to eat some much- needed food. They came back to see the church that Johnny and Pony were hiding out in on fire. There was a school having a picnic there. Some of the kids trapped inside the church. Without saying anything, Pony jumped out of the car and ran into the burning church with Johnny behind him. Right after saving the kids, Pony described, ‘‘Johnny shoved me out the window. ‘Get out!’ I leaped out the window and I heard timber crashing and the flames roaring right behind me” (Hinton 97). Instead of saving himself, Johnny pushed Pony out the window and saved him. Johnny puts others before himself and is willing to risk his life for others. This act is truly heroic.
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.
Please be careful, because I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you” (98). Pony realizes that his assumption was wrong and that Darry just wants the best for him. Since Ponyboy knows that Darry loves him, he stops telling himself that he hates Darry and starts opening up to him. He also stops making rude comments about Darry because he now knows none of it is true. Darry's love helps Pony grow as an individual, but so does the last thing Johnny says before he dies.
Ponyboy is a hero because he is courageous and not afraid to rescue and help people in their times of need. One main reason why Ponyboy is a hero is that when school children are stuck in a fire Ponyboy runs in to rescue them. Ponyboy yells to the teacher, “I’ll get them, don’t worry… I’ll get them,” and immediately rushes into the burning building to rescue the children. This quote shows the true nature of Ponyboy because he is concerned for a group of children trapped in a burning church. He was so worried that he goes in to the burning church with disregard for his safety and saves the kids. What he did when the church was burning meats the definition of a hero perfectly, he was courageous, saved people who needed his help, and was even called a hero by the newspaper. Another way that Ponyboy is a hero is that when Randy, a soc comes over and talks to Ponyboy, Ponyboy listens and talks to Randy about Randy’s problems. Randy then goes on to say, “Thanks kid.” This is a small gesture of kindness shown by Ponyboy, yet it is an act of heroism too. People do not have to save the world to be a hero, a small act of kindness still can take a courageous gesture like overcoming the differences between two people like Ponyboy and Randy did. Heroism in its own simple but pleasant way being kind to others is also heroic. Ponyboy is a hero because no mater how big or small
I wasn't about to go through that flaming door, so I slammed a big rock through a window and pulled myself in. It was a wonder I didn't cut myself to death, now that I think about it.” He shows courage because he barrels into the church that was a raging inferno to save innocent children. He also shows courage at the end of the book, “’You're the guy that killed Bob Sheldon,’ one of them said. ‘And he was a friend of ours. We don't like nobody killing our friends, especially greasers.’ ‘Big deal.’ I busted the end of my bottle and held on to the neck and tossed away my cigarette. ‘You get back into your car or you'll get split.’ They looked kind of surprised, and one of them backed up. ‘I mean it.’ I hopped off the car. ‘I've had about all I can take from you guys.’ I started toward them, holding the bottle the way Tim Shepard holds a switch--- out and away from myself, in a loose but firm hold. I guess they knew I meant business, because they got into their car and drove off.” He fearlessly opposes the Socials, clearly showing that he has great courage and should not be underestimated. Also, another time that Ponyboy proves to be a courageous person is when he fights at the rumble even though he feels a bit sick. He put his gang first and fought for them in the rumble.
Ponyboy fits the definition of hero because he is empathetic even when difficult and unexplainable moments in life happen. For example, after Darry and Soda come to view Ponyboy and Johnny at the hospital, Darry, his 20-year old brother is frightened from the thought of Ponyboy traveling to Windrixville nearly alone with the news that he has gone into the burning church to save the children. As Ponyboy recognizes Darry bawling, he suddenly cries out, “‘Darry!’ I screamed, and the next thing I knew I had him around the waist and was squeezing the daylights out of him. ‘Darry!’ I said, ‘I’m sorry…” (Hinton 98). Ponyboy’s empathy makes him comprehend that Darry has invested in Ponyboy for his entire life, which Ponyboy only realizes now. His world expands when he desperately saves the children from the church and begins to learn the role of a parent making him instantly realize Darry’s true emotions. Additionally, while Randy (one of the most understanding Socs) and
Ponyboy is a hero because he went into a burning church and saved the children that were in the the church. Ponyboy is also a hero is because he is a survivor. Ponyboy is a hero because he is not afraid to step up. Ch.8 says a quote from johnny and it says I would, I would help her and Randy both if I could. "Hey," I said suddenly, "can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?" That meant that Ponyboy has the desire to help people in problems which makes him a hero. Another quote was in ch 4 which meant that ponyboy isn’t afraid of anything and it says “You know what a Soc is? I said, my voice trembling 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.” Heroes are people who rescue others or people that do something that is really brave. Ponyboy did that, so he is a hero in that way.
In the beginning of the novel, Ponyboy is walking home alone thinking about the past, and the relationship between Greasers and Socs, or the upperclassmen. Ponyboy later is jumped due to being alone by himself at night. “ Anyway I went home thinking about the movie, and then suddenly wishing I had some company. Greasers can’t walk alone too much or they’ll get jumped…” (Hinton 2). Ponyboy feels isolated knowing there was a chance he could be jumped by a Soc. He was feeling alone which resembled that he wanted some company and wanted to feel safe. Later on, after Johnny saves Ponyboy, and has to kill Bob, a Soc, they have to run away to an abandoned church located in Windrixville. The next day Ponyboy wakes up and Johnny is not sleeping next to him on the ground. This makes Ponyboy feel lonely, and he begins to think about home and wishes he was with his brothers eating dinner. “ I woke up late in the afternoon. For a second I did not know where I was… I convinced myself that I had dreamed the night before.” (Hinton 68)
Individuals don't need to spare the Earth to be considered a hero, a little demonstration of generosity still can take a gutsy signal like conquering the contrasts between two individuals like Ponyboy and Randy did. Gallantry in its own basic yet charming way being caring to others is likewise courageous. Ponyboy is a legend in light of the fact that no matter how enormous or little the demonstration of chivalry he submitted was, it spared, and inhabited.
Ponyboy was always the odd one out, he’s not like the other Greasers. In the novel, after losing several of his dearest friends, Ponyboy’s whole life turned upside down. In the story, many events of violence of loss happened, everything around Ponyboy is just so violent, even he started to be affected by it. “You're the guy that killed Bob Sheldon. […] And he was a friend of ours. We don't like nobody killing our friends, especially greasers."(Hinton 171) Ponyboy’s response to such violent behavior was to face it with more violence. Indignantly, busting off a bottle, Ponyboy threatened the Soc to beat him up, which was not like what he used to do, when he still retained his sanity. Now, Ponyboy is starting to accept violence and is slowly becoming conformity as the others, a cruel and delirious “Greaser”. The transformation is deadly and can ruin his whole life because of this chaotic behavior. Besides Ponyboy’s chaotic behavior, he is starting to fail at daily
These boys were the last people, people suspected to be a hero. One way Ponyboy is a hero is because after the whole stuff with Johnny went down and Dally and Johnny ended up dieing . Also that him and his older brother Darry (the one who took care of him after his parents died) didn’t get along. One quote from the book that proves that they didn’t get along is. ”Nobody in my family had ever hit me.
It has clearly shown that Ponyboy has become more responsible for himself and showed perseverance after a long time being away from his family. The biggest event in the novel is towards the end as the church burned down, Pony and Johnny saved the kids from burning and rescued them to safety. Pony showed bravery and courage to do something crazy that’s beyond his ability compared to at the beginning. Johnny was sent to the hospital after a life-risking mission. “Stay Gold Ponyboy, Stay Gold” meaning to stay true, were his last words before he passed away. Ponyboy has finally started to decide exactly the kind of person he wants to be. Nice, non-violent, and
Whenever there is a situation when he shouldn’t do something for his own good, he still does it to help out, no matter how dangerous. One important example of this is when he ran into the church to save the little kids, His own life was on the line to help those kids stuck in the church, but since he felt he needed to help out, he still ran in. When he was in the ambulance after he escaped from the church, the man Jerry who he saw on his way into the church thought Ponyboy and his friends were “the bravest [kids] I’ve seen in a long time.” Another example of his courageous virtues are when he went to the rumble even when he thought he was sick, just to help his friends win. Without his courageousness, the rumble might have had different results, and all the little kids in the church would’ve
In the beginning, of The Outsider Ponyboy was an average kid with good grades and could run really fast. He wasn’t like the other kids in the group of greasers. They robbed gas stations and grocery stores, fought, looked tough and hated the Socs. Most of them
In addition, Hinton’s allocation of Ponyboy as the narrator aids the novel in being well-read through several eras. Readers observe his bildungsroman, much like teenagers from any generation will have to do in their own lives. Near the end of the novel he expresses his feelings about the Socs, saying, “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). Because it does not matter whether the adolescent reader comes from the same time period of the novel or from today’s society, this fictional journey is especially significant. Without the point of view of Ponyboy, The Outsiders would be a novel that may not shape an adolescent’s reading experience as significantly as it does; furthermore, another relevant literary device in use is symbolism.