The Outsiders

Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. New York: Puffin, 1997. Print.

Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers, Sodapop and Darry, belong to a group of poor teenage boys called greasers. Many of them have led hard lives already, and they are tough, angry and unforgiving. They often fight with the Socs, the group of wealthy, privileged boys who beat them up for fun. One night, ponyboy and his nervous best friend Johnny, are attacked by socs. The socs almost drown Ponyboy, and Johnny, defending Ponyboy, stabs Bob, one of the socs to death. Their aggressive, troubled friend Dally, gives them money and a gun loaded, and tells them to hide in an abandoned church on Jay mountain. Ponyboy, and Johnny find the church, and set up camp. Johnny, cuts and bleaches Ponyboy's hair, and cuts his own. Dally comes to the church, and takes Pony and Johnny to get some food. He tells them that a big fight is scheduled for tomorrow, and that Bob's (member of the socs) girlfriend, Cherry, is going to testify that Bob asked for it, since he was drunk, and that the murder was self-defense. They return to the church, and see it's on fire. Some little kids are trapped inside, and Pony, Johnny, and Dally save them. Dally burns his arm and a large piece of wood fall on Johnny, breaking his back, and burning him badly. Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dally are declared heroes, but a juvenile trial is scheduled for Johnny and Ponyboy. Pony is reunited with his brothers, Darry, and Soda. With the fight near, Ponyboy visits Dally, and dying Johnny in the hospital, and Dally declares that they beat the socs for Johnny. The Greasers and Socs fight each other, and the socs lose. The Greasers go and see Johnny to tell him the news. Johnny tells Ponyboy to "stay strong," and then dies. Dally, unable to live with the fact that Johnny is dead, panics, and robs a store. He is chased to the vacant lot by the cops. Pony and the guys arrive, only to see Dally get gunned down by the cops.

S.E Hinton’s novel illustrates the continual struggle of finding social identity in the clash of economics and socialism. In the novel the greasers identity themselves through physical traits, Unlike the socs who use their money in identifying themselves through their jewelry and their cars, the greasers only significant form of identification is their greasy long hair which distinguishes them from all other social groups and classes. At the beginning of the novel one the socs even attempts to cut ponyboy’s hair in an attempt to strip him of his identity. Hinton also illustrates the consequences of social identity when Johnny accidently kills one of the socs, through self defense. Yet knowing his place in society, he decides to run rather then turn himself in, aware that his testimony would never stand in court because he is a “greaser.”