Skip to main content

What elements of his life with the gang seem to cause Ponyboy inner conflict in The Outsiders?

From the very first page of the novel, it is clear Ponyboy feels different from the other members of his gang, The Greasers. He explains he went to see a movie by himself because "When I see a movie with someone it's kind of uncomfortable, like having someone read your book over your shoulder. I'm different that way. . . nobody in our gang digs movies and books the way I do. For a while...

From the very first page of the novel, it is clear Ponyboy feels different from the other members of his gang, The Greasers. He explains he went to see a movie by himself because "When I see a movie with someone it's kind of uncomfortable, like having someone read your book over your shoulder. I'm different that way. . . nobody in our gang digs movies and books the way I do. For a while there, I thought I was the only person in the world that did." It appears that Ponyboy has always had a different way of thinking about things than other Greasers. He cares about school and likes to read and think deeply about the world around him.  


Most Greasers seem to have accepted life the way it is, but Ponyboy questions the world around him and wonders what life might be like if things were different. Ponyboy doesn't seem to hate the Socs as much as other Greasers. Instead, he wonders what the Soc girls are like, and "Why did the Socs hate us so much? We left them alone." His confusion is only exacerbated by his friendship with Cherry Valance. He was always taught to see all the Socs as enemies incapable of kindness or warmth, but Cherry does not seem to fit this mold.  


By the end of the novel, Ponyboy comes to understand the Socs are young people with lives and problems of their own, just like the Greasers.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...

What gift did Della buy for Jim and why in "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which... Della buys Jim a watch fob because his watch is his most prized possession. Della and Jim Young do not have much money. Despite this, Della really wants to buy Jim a good Christmas present. She is even willing to sell her hair to get him a nice gift. This is ironic because we learn Della and Jim both highly prize her hair. Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a mighty pride. One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. The other was Della's hair.  Della is still willing to sell her hair so she can b...

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...