Themes In The Outsiders By S.E. Hinton

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Eric Abolafia 4-2-11 Period 5/6, Language Arts Literacy Literary Analysis Paper Themes in The Outsiders The Socs and the Greasers are the main groups portrayed in The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. The Socs are the rich, preppy kids that live on the west side of town. Meanwhile, the Greasers are poor, they are always put down and all they have are each other. They live on the east side of town. Throughout the book, the Greasers are stereotyped as switchblade carrying juvenile delinquents with the exception of Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade. Ponyboy enjoys reading, watching movies, getting good grades in school and is innocent. Johnny tends to stay back and not be involved in any trouble that is being caused. Although they do not act like Greasers they are stereotyped as what most Greasers are. Because of the intense amount of stereotyping, the gang needs to stay loyal to one another, and realize the importance of family throughout their clique One of the most important aspects of the two social group’s relationships, the Socs and the Greasers, are their loyalty to one another. Although the Greasers have had several bad incidents with the Socs, they stick together even through the harshest of problems. They will never leave another member of the gang behind, no matter the situation. For example, when Bob and his gang attack Ponyboy, and attempt to drown him in the fountain, Johnny is there to stand up for him. He did not stand aside and let his friend get beat up, he took action. He took out a switchblade and stabbed Bob in the stomach: “I had to. They were drowning you, Pony. They might have killed you” (Hinton 57). Not only do Greasers stay loyal to one another, but the Socs also follow that tradition. “If I see you in the hall at school or someplace and don’t say hi, well, it’s not personal or anything” (Hinton

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