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Character Analysis: The Outsiders

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What do you value most in others, a kind heart, empathy, or the inability to look past how others see you? Judging somebody off something that they can’t control shows how you look at the people around you and what you value in them. Everyone runs deeper and more complex than their social status and how people perceive them. This is why the most important thesis in S.E Hinton’s novel, The Outsiders is that social status doesn't define a person, it’s judging somebody over social status that defines them People are more complex than how people view them. Ponyboy; a Greaser was smart, loved to read and enjoyed watching the sunset but wasn't viewed as such. Ponyboy was viewed by Socs and others as violent, dirty and irresponsible. Not to mention Ponyboy describes how Greasers are viewed, “Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while. I don’t mean I do things like that…”. Greasers are seen as a very strong stereotype and despite Ponyboy not being like that he is still viewed as such because of his social …show more content…

The way the Socs view the greasers show how they value other people. They value wealth and status over any other factor. In addition, how the socs interact and speak with the greasers emphasizes what their core values are. Evidence of this is shown here in the story, “you know what a greaser is?...White trash with long hair”. The Socs speak to Johnny and Ponyboy in a hostile manner despite them only being there. This shows that before they even try to get to know them they are already judging based on social status. Aswell, this shows who they are, judging someone like the snap of a finger coupled with the aggressive manner the Socs use towards the Greasers, paints the Socs as rude and impolite. This proves how judging somebody over social status defines them as a person and what their values

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