Character Analysis Of Ponyboy Curtis In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

Almost everyone deals with a loss differently and for Ponyboy Curtis it is acting and looking in a way that was not true to himself. The novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton shows many examples of different kinds of people, but by far the oddest of them all is Ponyboy Curtis. Ponyboy was born on the East side of Oklahoma which means he is to be a greaser. Greasers are known for their violent behavior and hair grease, but not Ponyboy. Although he does use hair grease he is not violent but instead enjoys reading and movies. Johnny, Ponyboy's best friend believing Pony can be whatever he wants to be, Ponyboy picking up his broken glass, and some socs not being able to understand how Ponyboy was classified as a greaser shows that no matter where

The East and West both have assumptions about one another. Sherri Valance also known as Cherry is a popular soc who while at the theatre meets Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally. Dally starts to mess with Cherry but Johnny tells him to back off. Cherry now annoyed looks back at Pony and Johnny to see if they were trying to start something too but when she sees that they are not she invites them to sit with her and her friend Marcia. As Pony and Cherry are talking to each other she asks “What's a nice, smart kid like you running around with trash like that for?” (Hinton 22-24). Cherry assumed that Pony was like any other greaser but was proven wrong. Even Cherry Valance does not understand why someone like Ponyboy is hanging around someone like Dallas

Before Johnny died he gives his copy of “Gone With The Wind” to the nurse to give to Pony. Days later after Johnny’s death, Ponyboy decides to look through the book Johnny gave him when a slip of paper falls out, it is a note from Johnny. Johnny tells Ponyboy “And don’t be bugged about being a greaser. You still have a lot of time to make yourself be whatever you want.” (Hinton 179). Johnny a fellow greaser believes wholeheartedly that if Pony put his mind to something he can accomplish it. Johnny knew Ponyboy was questioning who he is exactly and what he wants to make of his life, but Johnny also knew that Pony will do something great. This note gives Ponyboy the confidence and strength to keep seeking out his true