The Outsiders Theme of Society and Class

Much of the action in The Outsiders is driven by class conflict. Fourteen-year-old narrator Ponyboy's gang, the Greasers, hail from the economically struggling East Side, while the rival gang, the Socials, come from the wealthy West Side. And, boy, these two groups are locked in a battle with no winners.

As author S.E. Hinton tells us that the "Soc vs. Greaser conflict" was inspired by similar rivalries in her own high school ( source ). The Outsiders is concerned with internal conflict and with its characters' inner lives, but most of the action and conflict is framed by interactions within and between groups.

Questions About Society and Class

  • From Pony's perspective, what advantages do the wealthier Socials have that he doesn't? Why are these important?
  • At the rumble, Ponyboy thinks that Darry would be a Social if he didn't have Pony, Soda, and the gang holding him back. What do you think Pony means by this? Is it a compliment, or an insult?
  • Have you experienced, seen, or heard about gang conflicts like the ones depicted in The Outsiders ? Does the novel contribute to your understanding of these situations? Why or why not?
  • What's the difference between a gang and a social club?
  • What might motivate Bob and his friends to beat up kids who have less money? What would the story be like if it was told by Bob's point of view, or by one of Bob's friends?

Chew on This

The Outsiders makes an argument for a society in which wealth is more evenly distributed among society's members. The Outsiders argues that violence and criminal activity aren't isolated to people in the lower economic classes, but that people in the lower economic classes are punished more often and more severely for any crimes they commit.

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The Outsiders

Introduction to the outsiders.

This coming-of-age novel , The Outsiders, was written by S. E. Hinton in 1967 after he had a contract with Viking Press to print the story . It is, however, interesting that she started writing it when she was15 years old and finished it when she was still in high school the next year. It was published in 1967 when she was 18 years old. The novel presents the story of a class struggle between the Socs and the Greasers, the elite class and the downtrodden respectively. Ponyboy Curtis, the main character of the story, presents this saga in the first-person narrative . The popularity of the story could be gauged from the fact that it was adapted for television as well as cinema in 1983 and 1990 respectively.

Summary of The Outsiders

The story starts with Ponyboy Curtis, a greaser, due to their long greasy hair was stopped by the Socs after which the Greasers, including the Curtis brothers Sodapop and Darry and friends Johnny Cade, Two-Bit & Dally, reach to save Ponyboy from their teasing. To retaliate, the next night two Greasers meet two Socs’ girls Cherry and Marcia where Dally, one of the Greasers, faces consternation after Cherry, the Socs girl, spurns his advances. However, to Dally’s surprise, she rather accepts Ponyboy as her friend, a thing entirely unacceptable in the Socs circles. Later Two-Bit joins them, offering to drop the girls home. But on the way their drunk boyfriends Bob and Randy stops and wishes to thrash Johnny.

However, the things do not cross hot taunts from Bob, though, Cherry saves the day. This makes Ponyboy becomes delayed at which Darry thrashes him, but he flees from home to meet Johnny with whom he expresses his resentment for living with Darry, his elder brother, for his parents have left for their final abode in a recent roadside accident. Estranged with his brother, Ponyboy joins hands with Johnny to leave the house but both of them find themselves surrounded by five Socs including Bob. After an exchange of hot words, Ponyboy spurns the Socs but finds himself caught by them as they try to drown him in the pond at which Johnny becomes furious. He immediately takes out his knife and kills Bob on the spot, making others run for their lives.

After Johnny and Ponyboy come to their senses, they run to find Dally. He helps them with weapons and money and asks them to hide themselves in an abandoned church in Windrixville,  a deserted place by taking a freight train. At the church, they pass their time reciting Gone with the Wind and the poetry of Robert Frost , also try to disguise themselves by dyeing and cutting their hair. During their time in the church, they feel like real ‘Outsiders’. Soon they come to know the escalation between the Greasers and the Socs when Dally comes to inform them about it. He takes them to a Dairy Queen and informs them that Cherry is working as their spy and would testify that Johnny’s act of killing Bob was self-defense and also Bob was drunk that night.

Hearing this Johnny decides to surrender. When they are about to leave, they find themselves in the fire around them with some children also trapped who arrived there on a school trip. Ponyboy soon loses his senses, while Greasers enter the church to save the kids. He comes to his senses in the hospital and finds that Dally is also not injured but Johnny is bedridden since the roof has fallen on his back while saving the children. Soon his brother Darry arrives and breaks down, realizing Ponyboy that he cares much for him.

It transpires in the next day’s papers that the Greasers have declared Ponyboy and Johnny as their heroes but that Johnny would be tried for assassinating Bob, the Socs boy. Meanwhile, Two-Bit arrives to inform Ponyboy about the final rumble to end the rivalry and they contact Randy who feels remorse at the ensuing war between both the communities. When Ponyboy visits Johnny he sees his heart-wrenching condition but returns and meets Cherry who does not want to visit Johnny for killing Bob, her friend. After an exchange of bitter words, they reconcile. However, Dally appears for the rumble in which the Greasers have their day.

When Pony takes Dally to the hospital, they become aggrieved at his death, making Dally run amuck out of the hospital toward his home. He has fits of hysteria, telling his family that he has looted a grocery store and the police are chasing him. The Greasers hurry to save him. Unfortunately, it was too late as Dally pulls the ‘black object ’ from his waist band alerting the police to shoot him. Ponyboy loses his consciousness at this tragedy . Later, he is exonerated by the court for Bob’s assassination.

Soon Ponyboy, again, starts schooling but does not have the heart to continue after which he fails badly in English, though, the teacher assures him to pass him for his good work. When later, he opens the novel, Gone with the Wind, he finds a letter from Johnny writing him about his death and the burning of the church. He also advises him to study hard after which he tries again to pass English by writing his term paper for all the ‘Dallys’ in the world which in turn becomes the novel itself.

Major Themes in The Outsiders

  • Anarchic Situation: The Outsiders presents the theme of an anarchic social situation in which different conflicts are going on side by side. There is a class conflict between the Socs and the Greasers as both communities are at loggerheads . Then there is a family conflict going on in the Curtis family that Darry does not like Ponyboy, though, later, he cries for him. There is another conflict between different groups of the Socs and the Greasers. It seems that the social fabric has crumbled under the weight of class discrimination, leading to this anarchic situation in which Bob and Johnny with several others become the fodder of prejudice and anarchy ensuing from this rivalry of two communities.
  • Communal Discrimination: The novel shows the theme of communal discrimination through  Socs as they see condescendingly toward the Greasers and this community prejudice seeps into the psyche of individuals. Ponyboy hates Bob and his gang and attacks them when they meet on the way in which Johnny kills Bob, leading to riots and fire in the church as well as the death of Johnny. This communal discrimination occurs almost everywhere including the cinema and the highways and takes the lives of several persons from both communities.
  • Empathy: The theme of empathy runs deep in the novel in the midst of the communal prejudice and racial hatred raging in the city. Several persons break the class stereotypical behavior. The first one to cross this boundary to feel empathy for any greaser is Cherry who becomes a friend of Ponyboy. She tries to mend matters between both communities and also between gangs. She sees things going bad to worse when she advises Ponyboy to be not hostile to the Socs. Randy also forces Ponyboy to feel sympathy for the Socs, and finally, he does this himself by starting his essay from a sympathetic note.
  • Childhood Innocence: The novel shows the theme of childhood innocence in the midst of raging hatred, hostility, and discrimination as Ponyboy sees things differently from other boys of his gang. It is also that as Dally and Johnny, both, have shown hardened youth and Johnny goes on to stab Bob, while Dally becomes not only rough but also tough during the gang fights. This contrast shows that children are still innocent and the final cry of Dally for his brother, Ponyboy, shows that he still loves his brother.
  • Individual Identity: The novel shows the collective identities through the Socs and the Greasers, two communities, so much so that individuals have very hard times finding their own identities. Johnny is otherwise a very good boy but kills Bob when he is with the Greasers’ lads. Ponyboy is an innocent boy who could argue with Cherry, the loving face of the Socs, and yet he leaves his own home. This identity even works on the micro level within the household as Ponyboy loses his identity to the group when Dally turns against him. When Bob dies, Ponyboy starts thinking about the conflict and its results, leading him to think about other boys.
  • Conflict Between the Rich and the Poor: The novel shows the conflict between the rich and the poor through the groups, the Socs, and the Greasers. The bitter conflict ensues between both the communities only because of the acute poverty of the Greasers and the wealth of the Socs. Despite some commonalities such as Cherry Valance finds in Ponyboy, the differences continue to widen. Even the children find harmony with each other through their common thinking, yet the gang wars and deaths of some youths, such as Bob and Johnny, lead to widening this gulf.
  • Lawlessness: The novel shows the theme of lawlessness through class difference, communal violence, and gang war/conflict. The class difference is clear in the hostility between the Socs and the Greasers, while communal violence has been shown in which Bob dies and the church is set on fire in the ensuing mob attacks. The conflict is also going on between the gangs of the Greasers and the Socs.
  • Violence: The novel shows the theme of violence in the gang fight, church on fire, and the death of Bob and Johnny. Both the gangs from the Greasers and the Socs turn against one and another when the time suits each group. When Johnny stabs Bob the situation worsens, leading the mob to set the church on fire in which several people die a violent death.
  • Minor Themes: Loyalty, education, isolation, sympathy, and love are some other minor themes.

Major Characters of The Outsiders

  • Ponyboy Curtis: Ponyboy Curtis, the youngest of the Curtis family, is not only the protagonist of the novel but also its first person narrator from whose eyes the readers see the events of the story. His slangy and young voice lends credence to the events he has to go through as the greaser young member of just fourteen. Although he belongs to the Greasers, he also has a link with the Socs through Cherry and understands Darry as the dominating leader, while Dally and Two-Bit as dangerous and wise young persons. Although he stays loyal to his group, he learns through Cherry that the Socs and the Greasers have shared aims. Despite his ordinary nature and low background, he refers to some literary masterpieces, showing his interesting and cultured nature. He sees mob psychology taking over the crowds, burning the church where he hides with his friend after having a fierce brawl with the Socs gang. Thus, the novel ends with an introductory line of his story.
  • Sodapop Curtis: Simply known as Soda, he is the elder brother of Ponyboy and is a highly energetic fellow interested only in movies and his own appearance. He impacts Ponyboy with his style and penchant for stylish personality, while his relationship with their elder brother, Darry, is somewhat complex and distant. As seen from the lens of Ponyboy, he, later, admits that he has not gone much deeper into his brother’s personality. In the end, he advises his brothers to patch up for the sake of family unity.
  • Johnny Cade: He is the second important character of the novel and an adolescent Greaser having a sense of his being an invincible young boy of sixteen. Despite his broken family background, he leads the Greasers in forming a gang and having a sense of protection and justice against the attacks of the Socs. His sense of justice even spans over his own gang when he asks Dally to stop harassing the Socs girls. Although his act leads to estrangement against him in his gang, it gives him a sense of his personality. When the Socs gang attacks them, he braves the confrontation heroically and ends up in a hospital after his hiding place catches fire in the mob violence. He dies at the end of the novel as a martyr.
  • Cherry Valance: This female character enters Ponyboy’s narrative and forms a good rapport with him after he asks his gang to stay away from girls, trying to mend fences with the Socs’ gang. However, it is interesting to see the Socs girl liking the greaser’s boys like Johnny and Ponyboy and talking to them. Despite their innocent relationship, Dally makes the water muddy for them, adding to their woes that Cherry dislikes. Despite these intimacies with the boys, she still has some group loyalties to which she sticks by the end.
  • Darry Curtis: The eldest Curtis boy, Darry leads the family of three boys after the death of their parents. He shows his domineering behavior toward his younger brothers as Ponyboy leaves the house after he treats him badly. It is Darry who later incites violence in which Johnny stabs a Socs’ boy and causes mob violence. However, in the end, when Sodapop coaxes Ponyboy and makes him understand the adult role Darry has played, both of them patch up.
  • Dallas Winston: Known as Dally in the story, Dallas is a teenager of 17 years, having sharp features and rough manners. On account of spending some period in the prison at a very young age, he has proved a tough fellow who keeps an eye on Johnny on account of his being the younger fellow among the Greasers. However, he is loyal to Ponyboy and stands by him.
  • Two-Bit Mathews: A wisecracker, Two-Bit is also known as Keith who is a regular shoplifter. On account of his instigation, the two communities, the Socs and the Greasers come to blows.
  • Steve Randle: A teen greaser, Steve is Sodapop’s friend and stays with him most of the time. A young boy of an athletic body, he is a tough opponent when it comes to fighting and feels Ponyboy’s company irritating.
  • Randy Anderson: A Socs, Randy is Bob’s friend whom Johnny kills during a confrontation with the Socs. However, his attitude toward the Greasers stays reasonable and humanistic as he does not see any rationality in hostilities and fighting.
  • Bob Sheldon: Bob is a minor character but he is at the center of the fight as Johnny kills him, during an inter-communal feud.

Writing Style of The Outsiders

The style of Hinton in the novel, The Outsiders, comprises constant use of foreshadowing to keep the readers on their toes about what is going to happen next. In this context , he has used very simple sentences that create suspense as well as predict future events. But one thing that makes this novel specifically Hintonian is that he uses a variety of sentences to make his readers feel being entertained, surprised, and puzzled simultaneously. The reason is that this epistolary type of style makes the readers feel the very voice of the beloved characters in their bones. For literary devices , Hinton turns toward allusions, metaphors , and similes.

Analysis of the Literary Devices in The Outsiders

  • Action: The main action of the novel comprises the narrative of a greaser boy, Ponyboy and his life in the mob violence with the Socs. The rising action occurs when his close friend Johnny kills a Socs, Bob. The falling action occurs when the Greasers win the rumble.
  • Anaphora : The below examples of anaphora are from the novel, i. One of them kept saying, “Shut him up, for Pete’s sake, shut him up!” (Chapter-1) ii. He likes Soda—everybody likes Soda— but he can’t stand me. (Chapter-3) iii. I walk in that house, and nobody says anything. I walk out, and nobody says anything. I stay away all night, and nobody notices. At least you got Soda. I ain’t got nobody.” (Chapter-3) These three examples show the repetitious use of “shut him up”, “likes”, and “nobody says anything.”
  • Allusion : The novel shows examples of allusions as given below, i. We killed time by reading Gone with the Wind and playing poker. Johnny sure did like that book, although he didn’t know anything about the Civil War and even less about plantations, and I had to explain a lot of it to him. (Chapter-6) ii. Robert Frost wrote it. He meant more to it than I’m gettin’ though.” I was trying to find the meaning the poet had in mind, but it eluded me. “I always remembered it because I never quite got what he meant by it.” (Chapter-5) The first example refers to a novel, the American Civil War, while the second refers to a popular American poet, Robert Frost.
  • Antagonist : The Socs gangs are the main antagonists who raise obstacles for Ponyboy.
  • Conflict : The novel shows both external and internal conflicts. The external conflict is going on between the Greasers and the Socs, while the internal or mental conflict is going on in the mind of Ponyboy about his relations as well as his role in the tussle between the two communities.
  • Characters: The Outsiders has both static as well as dynamic characters . Ponyboy and Johnny Cade are dynamic characters as they show a considerable transformation in their behavior and conduct by the end of the novel. However, all other characters are static as they do not show or witness any transformation such as Dally, Cherry, Sodapop, Dallas, and Bob.
  • Climax : The climax in the novel occurs when the Socs set the church on fire and Johnny and Ponyboy try their best to save the children.
  • Imagery : The examples of imagery from the novel are given below, i. The dawn was coming then. All the lower valley was covered with mist, and sometimes little pieces of it broke off and floated away in small clouds. The sky was lighter in the east, and the horizon was a thin golden line. The clouds changed from gray to pink, and the mist was touched with gold. There was a silent moment when everything held its breath, and then the sun rose. It was beautiful. (Chapter-5) ii. he was a little woman, with straight black hair and big black eyes like Johnny’s. But that was as far as the resemblance went. Johnnycake’s eyes were fearful and sensitive; hers were cheap and hard. (Chapter-8) These two examples show images of sight, color, sound, and emotions.
  • Metaphor : The Outsiders has sentences with metaphors as given below, i. We killed time by reading Gone with the Wind and playing poker. (Chapter-5) ii. There was an uneasy silence : Who was going to start it? Darry solved the problem. (Chapter-9) These examples show that several things have been compared directly in the novel such as the first shows time and silence as animals or human beings.
  • Mood : The novel, The Outsiders, shows a very bitter and rebellious mood in the beginning and becomes violent in the middle after which it shows a calm and peaceful mood.
  • Motif : Most important motifs of the novel are the literature, color, class, and consciousness of Ponyboy.
  • Narrator : The novel is narrated from a first person narrator, Ponyboy Curtis. Therefore, he is also the protagonist of the story.
  • Paradox : The below sentences are paradoxes examples from the novel, i. He’s always happy-go-lucky and grinning, while Darry’s hard and firm and rarely grins at all. (Chapter-1) ii. It seems funny to me that he should look just exactly like my father and act exactly the opposite from him. (Chapter-1) Both of these examples show that the writer has put paradoxical ideas or things together.
  • Personification : The examples of personifications are given below, i. The pool was empty now in the fall, but the fountain was going merrily. Tall elm trees made the park shadowy and dark. (Chapter-4) ii. A cool deadly bluff could sometimes shake them off, but not if they outnumbered you five to two and were drunk. (Chapter-4) iii. My hair looked funny, scattered over the floor in tufts. “It’s lighter than I thought it was,” I said, examining it. “Can I see what I look like now? (Chapter-5) iv. There was an uneasy silence: Who was going to start it? Darry solved the problem. (Chapter-9) These examples show as if the fountain, bluff, hair, and silence have life and emotions of their own.
  • Protagonist : Ponyboy Curtis is the protagonist of the novel. The novel starts with his entry in the story immediately when he starts narrating it and ends with his transformation.
  • Repetition : The repetition examples from the book are giving below, i. I winced inside. I’ve told you I can’t stand it that Soda dropped out. “He’s a dropout,” I said roughly. “Dropout” made me think of some poor dumb-looking hoodlum wandering the streets breaking out street lights— it didn’t fit my happy-go-lucky brother at all. (Chapter-2) ii. “Rat race is a perfect name for it,” she said. “We’re always going and going and going, and never asking where. (Chapter-3) iii.Remembering. Remembering a handsome, dark boy with a reckless grin and a hot temper. A tough, tow-headed boy with a cigarette in his mouth and a bitter grin on his hard face. Remembering— and this time it didn’t hurt— a quiet, defeatedlooking sixteen-year-old whose hair needed cutting badly and who had black eyes with a frightened expression to them. (Chapter-10) These examples show “dropout”, “going” and “remembering” repeated several times in the sentences.
  • Setting : The setting of the novel, The Outsiders, is Tulsa area in Oklahoma, possibly in mid-1960s.
  • Simile : The examples of similes from the novel are given below, i. You know how it is, when you wake up in a strange place and wonder where in the world you are, until memory comes rushing over you like a wave. (Chapter-5) ii. The water from it was like liquid ice and it tasted funny, but it was water. (Chapter-5) iii. But I realized that these three appealed to me because they were like the heroes in the novels I read. (Chapter-5) iv. Curly, who was a tough, cool, hard-as-nails Tim in miniature, and I had once played chicken by holding our cigarette ends against each other’s fingers. (Chapter-9) v. The excitement was catching. Screeching like an Indian, Steve went running across the lawn in flying leaps, stopped suddenly, and flipped backward. (Chapter-9) These are similes as the use of the words “like” and “as” showing a comparison in the first memory with the wave, in the second water with ice, in the third persons with heroes, in the fourth hardness with nails, and in the fourth screeching with an Indian.

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the outsiders social class essay

The Outsiders

S. e. hinton, everything you need for every book you read..

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Divided Communities

Ponyboy stands in the middle of two major conflicts: the conflict between the Socs and greasers, and the conflict between Ponyboy and Darry within the Curtis family. In the gang conflict, the novel shows how the two groups focus on their differences—they dress differently, socialize differently, and hang out with different girls—and how this focus on superficial differences leads to hate and violence. Yet the novel also shows how the two groups depend on their…

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Empathy, the ability to see things through another person's perspective, is central to the resolution of both the gang and the family conflict in The Outsiders . The two gangs' preoccupation with the appearance and class status of their rivals underscores the superficiality of their mutual hostility, which thrives on stereotypes and prejudice. Certain characters can see past the stereotypes, however. When Cherry befriends Ponyboy at the drive-in and insists that "things are rough all…

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Preserving Childhood Innocence

The Outsiders shows the importance of preserving the hope, open-mindedness, and appreciation of beauty that are characteristic of childhood. Ponyboy's daydreams about the country, his appreciation of sunrises and sunsets , and his rescue of the children from the burning church distinguish him from other characters in the novel. These traits show that Ponyboy, unlike the other boys, still has preserved some of his childhood innocence. They also allow him to see beyond the shallow…

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Self-Sacrifice and Honor

Despite the greasers' reputation as heartless young criminals, they live by a specific and honorable code of friendship, and there are many instances in which gang and family members make selfless choices. These choices often reflect a desire to make life better for the next generation of youths. Darry forfeited a college scholarship for a full-time manual labor job in order to support his younger brothers. Dally , who seems not to care about anything…

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Individual Identity

Both the Socs and the greasers sacrifice their individuality to the styles and sentiments of their groups. Greasers, for example, wear their hair long and oiled, and share a common hostility toward the Socs.

At the start of the novel, Ponyboy is a dedicated greaser even though he knows that certain aspects of his personality make him different from the rest of the gang. The gang provides him with too great of a sense of…

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77 The Outsiders Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best the outsiders topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting the outsiders topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about the outsiders, ❓ the outsiders essay questions.

  • Analysis of The Outsiders From the Perspectives of Social Work Theories and Applications The rivalry between the two gangs the Greasers and the Socs turns into the struggle in the context of social problems.
  • Ponyboy’s Evolution in Hinton’s “The Outsiders” Two of Ponyboy’s friends die, and he sees a lot of violence in the streets. He is still a part of the gang, and he thinks that violence is a part of their life. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
  • The Outsiders: Critical Review Thus, this analytical treatise attempts to explicitly and critically review the elements of storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound and style, directing, themes, genre, and the impact of the film on the society, framing and scene […]
  • The Outsiders by Susan Eloise Hinton Therefore, it is crucial to get acquainted with the essence of the novel and analyze its main characters to genuinely comprehend Hinton’s view on the challenges of the teenage age within the framework of this […]
  • “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton He thinks that the law is a joke. He was the gang leader of the Socs.
  • “Avatar” by Cameron and “The Outsiders” by Coppola: Comparison It is one of the main messages of the film. The movie shows the antagonistic attitude of people to the inhabitants of the planet of Pandora.
  • Story Analysis of “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton Cherry’s attraction to Dallas is of essence in the story since it illustrates that the conflict between the two teenage groups is reconcilable.”I had to.
  • The Influence of Bad Parenting or the Lack of Parents in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Conflict in “The Outsiders” and the Gap Between the Rich and the Poor
  • “The Outsiders”: Ponyboy Compared to Dally
  • The Three Life Lessons Learned by Ponyboy in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Wrong Thing for the Wrong Reasons in “Tom Sawyer” and “The Outsiders”
  • The Idea of Social Class in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Common Issues of Dependence in “A Separate Peace” and “The Outsiders”
  • The Characters of Jack and Ralph in “Lord of the Flies” and the Character of Pony in “The Outsiders”
  • The Socioeconomic Triggers of Juvenile Delinquency: Analysis of “The Outsiders”
  • The Use of Stereotypes in “The Outsiders”
  • Overcoming Obstacles in “The Outsiders” and “The Time Traveler”
  • Common Issues Highlighted in “The Outsiders” and “Saints and Roughnecks”
  • The Act of Self Defense in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Banning of Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” and Hinton’s “The Outsiders” in U.S. Schools
  • The Relationship Between Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally in S. E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”
  • “The Outsiders”: Codependence Analysis of Business Cycles in Europe
  • The Similarities Between Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye” and Hinton’s “The Outsiders”
  • The True Meaning of a Hero in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Positive and Negative Impacts of “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Definition of a Social Class in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Ups and Downs of “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • Comparing the Differences Between Johnny and Dally in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Different Types of People in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Development of Two Social Outcasts Into Strong and Dependable Individuals in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Outsiders”
  • The Five Stages of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • Death Presented in the Novels “Of Mice and Men” and “The Outsiders”
  • An Analysis of the Story of Brotherhood in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Hero’s Journey in S. E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”
  • The Story of Conflict Between the Greasers and the Socs in S. E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”
  • The Idea of Social Acceptance in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Concepts of Conformity and Staying True to One’s Self Portrayed in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Character of Cherry Valance in S. E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”
  • The Theme of Alienation in “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “Invisible Man,” “Not Like Other Boys,” and “The Outsiders”
  • The Rivalry Between “The West Side Story” and “The Outsiders”
  • The Significance of Stereotypes Illustrated in Hinton’s “The Outsiders”
  • The Courage, Selflessness, and Care of Johnny Cade in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Three Deaths in Hinton’s “The Outsiders”
  • The Inspiration From the Authors’ Lives in “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • The Difference Between the Greasers and Socs in “The Outsiders” by S. E. Hinton
  • Events in Life That Can Induce the Loss of Innocence in S. E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders” and Richard Wright’s “Black Boy”
  • What Are the Issues Explored and Techniques Used in S. E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”?
  • Who Are Your Close Ties in S. E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders”?
  • How Does Ponyboy Change Through “The Outsiders”?
  • What Are Conflicts of the Main Character Ponyboy Curtis in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Is the Moral Lesson of “The Outsiders”?
  • How Does the Division Between the East Side and the West Side Represent the Conflict Within “The Outsiders”?
  • Why Should “The Outsiders” Be Taught in School?
  • Is the Violence Shocking, Predictable, Boring, or Melodramatic in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Do Johnny’s Last Words Mean in “The Outsiders”?
  • How Does the West Side Story Compare to “The Outsiders”?
  • What Is the Difference Between Ponyboy the Narrator and Ponyboy the Character in “The Outsiders”?
  • How Do Dally and Johnny Compare in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Elements in “The Outsiders” Make the Story More Real?
  • How Many Chapters Are in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Does Johnny Mean When He Tells Ponyboy “Stay Gold” in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Is the Most Important Message in “The Outsiders”?
  • How Did the Ponyboy’s Loss of Innocence Begin Before “The Outsiders” Begun?
  • What Major Themes Are Seen in “The Outsiders”?
  • How Do Cars Fill the Gap of the Differences Between the Two Socioeconomic Groups in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Message Is Implied at the End of “The Outsiders”?
  • Which Things in the Story Would Have Remained the Same if Ponyboy’s Parents Had Still Been Alive in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Draws Cherry to the Greasers in “The Outsiders”?
  • What’s the Symbolism of the Switchblade Knife in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Are the Reasons Cherry Gets Attracted to the Greasers in “The Outsiders”?
  • How Do “The Outsiders” Relate to the Real World?
  • What Are Similarities Between Johnny and Dally in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Are the Conflicts Introduced by the Reader at the Start of “The Outsiders”?
  • Why Did Dally Tell Johnny Not Turn Himself in “The Outsiders”?
  • What Messages Was the Author Trying to Convey by Writing “The Outsiders”?
  • How Do Ponyboy’s Feelings Toward Randy Reflect the Conflict Between the Socs and the Greasers in “The Outsiders”?
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, December 14). 77 The Outsiders Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-outsiders-essay-examples/

"77 The Outsiders Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 14 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-outsiders-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '77 The Outsiders Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 14 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "77 The Outsiders Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 14, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-outsiders-essay-examples/.

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IvyPanda . "77 The Outsiders Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 14, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-outsiders-essay-examples/.

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the outsiders social class essay

Angel Reese Bids Farewell to LSU, College Basketball With Heartfelt Video Essay

  • Author: Karl Rasmussen

In this story:

Angel Reese announced Wednesday morning that she intends to enter the 2024 WNBA draft following LSU's season-ending defeat against Caitlin Clark and Iowa in Monday's Elite Eight .

Shortly after her announcement, Reese bid farewell to the Tigers and all of her fans across the country on a more personal level, sharing a heartfelt video essay to her social media accounts. In the video, Reese thanked her supporters and expressed her gratitude to those who helped her along her journey.

"I'm leaving college with everything I've ever wanted," Reese said. "A degree. A national championship. And this platform I could have never imagined. This is for the girls that look like me, that's going to speak up on what they believe in, it's unapologetically you. To grow up in sports and have an impact on what's coming next.

"This was a difficult decision, but I trust the next chapter because I know the author. Bayou Barbie, out."

Grateful for these last four years and excited for this next chapter. #BAYOUBARBIEOUT pic.twitter.com/EvkzUW08JV — Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 3, 2024

Reese played two seasons at LSU after transferring from the University of Maryland. With the Tigers, she racked up a multitude of accolades and won a national championship last season, vaulting herself into the national spotlight in the process. Across 69 games for LSU, Reese averaged 20.9 points and 14.4 rebounds.

After wrapping up a legendary college career and bidding an emotional farewell to her fans, Reese has officially declared her intention to enter the WNBA draft, where she projects as a first-round pick in what figures to be a loaded draft class.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Outsiders — The Outsiders: Complex Characters

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The Outsiders: Complex Characters

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Words: 690 |

Published: Mar 16, 2024

Words: 690 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

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Ponyboy curtis, johnny cade, dallas winston.

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Dallas Winston, a character from S.E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders," is known for his rebellious and tough nature. Throughout the book, Dallas Winston, also known as Dally, makes several memorable quotes that reflect his [...]

In S. E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders," the character of Darrel Curtis, also known as Darry, plays a significant role. As the eldest sibling and caretaker of his two younger brothers, Darry is portrayed as a responsible and [...]

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the outsiders social class essay

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  1. The Outsiders: the Theme of Social Classes

    Papers provided by EduBirdie writers usually outdo students' samples. Cite This Essay. Download. In The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, there is a common theme of class divide rich vs poor and greasers vs socs. In the novel The Outsiders is about two gangs on each side of a town. The socs and the greasers, who have a destructive rivalry and are very ...

  2. The Outsiders: Theme of Social Class and Identity

    Written by S.E. Hinton and published in 1967, The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel that explores the lives of two rival groups, the Greasers and the Socs, in 1960s Oklahoma. The novel delves into the struggles, conflicts, and relationships of the characters, and one of the central themes of the novel is the exploration of social class and ...

  3. The Outsiders: Exploring the Theme of Social Class and Identity: [Essay

    The theme of social class and identity has been a prevalent and significant topic. In S.E. Hinton's novel, The Outsiders, this theme is prominently featured as the story revolves around the lives of two rival groups, the Greasers and the Socs, who come from different social backgrounds.The novel delves into the complexities of social class and the impact it has on individual identity ...

  4. The Outsiders: Mini Essays

    The Outsiders is a novel of conflicts—greaser against Soc, rich against poor, the desire for violence against the desire for reconciliation. Dally and Johnny do not battle against each other, but they are opposites. Johnny is meek, fearful, and childlike, while Dally is hard, cynical, and dangerous. As they near the ends of their lives ...

  5. The Outsiders Theme of Society and Class

    The Outsiders Theme of Society and Class. Much of the action in The Outsiders is driven by class conflict. Fourteen-year-old narrator Ponyboy's gang, the Greasers, hail from the economically struggling East Side, while the rival gang, the Socials, come from the wealthy West Side. And, boy, these two groups are locked in a battle with no winners.

  6. The Outsiders: Themes

    The Outsiders tells the story of two groups of teenagers whose bitter rivalry stems from socioeconomic differences. However, Hinton suggests, these differences in social class do not necessarily make natural enemies of the two groups, and the greasers and Socs share some things in common. Cherry Valance, a Soc, and Ponyboy Curtis, a greaser ...

  7. The Outsiders: A+ Student Essay: Contrasting Bob Sheldon ...

    Social Class QUOTES; Full Book QUICK QUIZZES; Central Idea Essay: The Role of Unconsciousness in The Outsiders ESSAYS; Take a Study Break. QUIZ: Is This a Taylor Swift Lyric or a Quote by Edgar Allan Poe? The 7 Most Embarrassing Proposals in Literature; The 6 Best and Worst TV Show Adaptations of Books;

  8. The Outsiders Themes

    The Outsiders focuses on issues of social class, exemplified by confrontations between the lower-class greasers and the upper-class Socs. Ponyboy hasn't done anything to provoke the Socs into ...

  9. The Outsiders

    Anarchic Situation: The Outsiders presents the theme of an anarchic social situation in which different conflicts are going on side by side. There is a class conflict between the Socs and the Greasers as both communities are at loggerheads.Then there is a family conflict going on in the Curtis family that Darry does not like Ponyboy, though, later, he cries for him.

  10. Social Class And Identity : The Outsiders

    Decent Essays. 907 Words. 4 Pages. Open Document. Social Class and Identity The disparity between the social classes in The Outsiders is one of the central themes and the driving force of the plot. Hinton sought to depict teen life in a more accurate light as she saw it occur from day to day ("S. E. Hinton Biography," 2014).

  11. Social Classes In The Outsiders

    In the novel "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton social classes a very apparent the rich and the poor. In The Outsiders, social classes create a divide in the community. The isolation of these two groups leads to the tension and violence that is seen in the book. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the "Outsiders" takes place, the divide in the social ...

  12. The Outsiders Essays and Criticism

    On its surface at least, The Outsiders is indeed a novel about the friction between social classes, in this case between the greasers and the Socs. It is also about the hunger for status, for a ...

  13. The Outsiders Themes: [Essay Example], 472 words GradesFixer

    The Outsiders Themes. A novel by S.E. Hinton, is a timeless classic that explores the themes of friendship, loyalty, and the struggle between social classes. Set in the 1960s, the book follows the lives of two rival gangs, the Greasers and the Socs, and their constant battles for dominance. Through the experiences of the main character, Ponyboy ...

  14. Analysis of The Outsiders from the Perspectives of Social ...

    Summary of the Book and Analysis of Characters' Relations. The Outsiders is a book that narrates about social struggles premised on differences in social outlooks, wealth, and cultural beliefs (Hinton, 2005). The rivalry between the two gangs - the Greasers and the Socs - turns into the struggle in the context of social problems.

  15. The Outsiders: Full Book Analysis

    The Outsiders is ostensibly about the animosity that exists between the greasers and the Socs.Almost all of the major incidents in the novel, minus the church fire, are altercations between the two rival groups. Superficially, the novel is a story of rich versus poor with Ponyboy and his friends positioned as the protagonists and the Socs as the antagonists.

  16. Individual Identity Theme in The Outsiders

    LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Outsiders, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Both the Socs and the greasers sacrifice their individuality to the styles and sentiments of their groups. Greasers, for example, wear their hair long and oiled, and share a common hostility toward the Socs.

  17. The Outsiders Themes

    The Outsiders shows the importance of preserving the hope, open-mindedness, and appreciation of beauty that are characteristic of childhood. Ponyboy's daydreams about the country, his appreciation of sunrises and sunsets, and his rescue of the children from the burning church distinguish him from other characters in the novel.These traits show that Ponyboy, unlike the other boys, still has ...

  18. Can you provide an example of classism in The Outsiders

    Classism is prejudice against a group because of social class. An example is people's preference for Socs over greasers. The Socs are "the Socials, the jet set, the West side rich kids" (ch 1).

  19. The Outsiders Character Analysis: [Essay Example], 683 words

    The Outsiders, a novel by S.E. Hinton, explores the lives of two rival gangs, the Greasers and the Socs, and the struggles they face in a society marked by violence and social class divisions. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Ponyboy Curtis, we witness the complex and multifaceted nature of the characters in this story.This essay will undertake a character analysis of three key figures in ...

  20. 77 The Outsiders Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    Ponyboy's Evolution in Hinton's "The Outsiders". Two of Ponyboy's friends die, and he sees a lot of violence in the streets. He is still a part of the gang, and he thinks that violence is a part of their life. We will write. a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts. 809 writers online. Learn More.

  21. The Outsiders Quotes: Social Class

    Things were rough all over, all right. All over the East Side. It just didn't seem right to me. On their walk to Two-Bit's house, Ponyboy and Cherry butt heads over the differences they each perceive between their social classes. While Cherry argues that things are difficult on both sides, Ponyboy sarcastically remarks to himself that things ...

  22. Angel Reese Bids Farewell to LSU, College Basketball With Heartfelt

    Shortly after her announcement, Reese bid farewell to the Tigers and all of her fans across the country on a more personal level, sharing a heartfelt video essay to her social media accounts.

  23. The Outsiders: Historical Context Essay: Decoding the Novel's Pop

    The Outsiders was written in 1967 as the United States was increasing its activity in Vietnam, the civil rights movement was gaining momentum, and the Beat movement of the 1950s was transitioning into the hippie movement of the 1960s.Yet none of these social or political events are referenced in the novel. The focus of the novel is instead on class and the way it affects these specific teenagers.

  24. The Outsiders: Complex Characters: [Essay Example], 690 words

    The Outsiders, a novel written by S.E. Hinton, is a timeless classic that delves into the lives of two rival groups, the greasers and the socs, in 1960s Oklahoma. The characters in the novel are complex and multifaceted, each with their own unique traits and struggles. This essay will analyze the main characters in The Outsiders, their ...