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What Is The Theme Of Rivalry In The Outsiders

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“‘I really couldn’t see what socs would have to sweat about-Man If I had worries like that, I would consider myself lucky. I know better now”’ (Hinton 36). In this novel, The Outsiders, written by S.E Hinton, a rivalry is occurring between two social gangs, the greasers and the socs. Because of this rivalry, each side develops a deep hatred for the other since they don’t understand each other. As humans, we have a tendency to dehumanize people that are different from us, but instead, we should come together and realize we are all more similar that we think. Three characters that exemplify this theme are Ponyboy Curtis, Randy Adderson, and Cherry Valance.

One character that exemplifies this theme of understanding is Ponyboy Curtis. …show more content…

Randy illustrates this theme when he says to Ponyboy Curtis right before the big fight between greasers and socs, ‘“Thanks, grease […] ]I didn’t mean that. I meant thanks, kid”’ (Hinton 117). Through this quote, Randy is showing that he now views Ponyboy as human just like him not as some stereotypical label. He is implying that he chooses not to take part in this categorization of greasers and soc. He sees the separation of people just increases people’s hatred for each other since humans have the natural instinct to hate or mistrust things different from them. He also epitomizes this theme of unity when he says to Ponyboy, ‘“I’m sick of it because it doesn’t do any good”’ (Hinton 117). Here Randy is saying that he’s tired of this hatred between social gangs and the pain it causes. Randy is conveying that fighting each other only hurts people and nobody has anything to gain from it. He’s stating that they should all learn to get along and live peacefully with each other.

A third character that exemplifies this theme is Cherry Valance. Cherry Valance, a soc and friend of Ponyboy’s, embodies this theme, when he says to Ponyboy, ‘“I’ll bet you think that socs have it made. We have troubles you’ve never ever heard of. Things are rough all over”’ (Hinton 35). In this quote, Cherry is trying to convey the message that it doesn’t matter if one is a greaser or a soc, you all have problems. She means that greasers and socs aren’t all that

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