The Outsiders Final

            Now as I come to an end of The Outsiders by S.E. Hilton, I really notice how wonderful this book is. I understand, the more times I read it, why it is considered an American Classic, and required reading in school. It has many themes throughout it, and while many of them are easy to see, others must be sought out. For instance, the life of a gangster is a theme that is very easy to see, but to notice that being displaced is another theme is more difficult to find on first glance.

            Ponyboy is a character who is displaced; his environment doesn’t suite him. For example, Ponyboy is a literate, intelligent character who is put into the path of the Greasers-a gang of hooligans. In fact, on page 2, Ponyboy says that “nobody in the 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”. Ponyboy feels lonely and without anyone to talk to sophisticatedly, he is almost dumbed down. Ponyboy is displaced because if he lived in a more educated situation, he would thrive more, have another pen in his hand rather than another cigarette-school rather than rumbles.

            Another way that we see Ponyboy being displaced is that he is very considerate and thoughtful. He worries about his friends and family. When he wakes up the day after Johnny kills the Soc member, he becomes concerned with not only Johnny’s safety, but the safety and well being of his brothers. What kind of gang member worries so much? A gang member who has no other choice but to be involved in the gang.

            A final reason for why I feel that Ponyboy is displaced is that he does at first hate the Socs, because they hate him and Greasers, but during the end of the book he hates them less and less. Not that he would switch sides and become one of them, but because he’s a normal, rational human. This is what we would deem as being thoughtful and correct (not hating your “enemy”), but in the world of the gangsters, that isn’t correct. Being thoughtful isn’t good. You wouldn’t hear Sodapop saying “guys this isn’t right, fighting like this does no justice”. Ponyboy is not supposed to be in the situation he’s in and we know that by hearing his beliefs towards the Socs at the end of the story.

I feel sorry for Ponyboy; he has no direction. Darry tries to steer him clear of danger as much as possible, but Darry isn’t well equipped to being a parent. Ponyboy is a character who, if he had better guidance, could have a very successful life ahead of him. He’s smart and likeable, he would be a good candidate for a good career, marriage, parent, friendships, etc. but it won’t happen because he isn’t being taught the right morals during the time in which he is coming of age. He doesn’t have that role model in his life that he wants to be like.

Overall, The Outsiders was a fantastic book. I recommend this for all and although this wasn’t the first time I’ve read the book, I’m sure it won’t be the last time either.