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Loss Of Innocence In The Outsiders

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The novel’s outsiders explore the challenges faced by Ponyboy Curtis and his fellow gang members, the Greasers. Throughout the novel, Ponyboy undergoes significant character development as he struggles with violence, stereotypes, and the loss of innocence. As the novel progresses, the Greasers face conflict with their rivals, the Socs. This has a significant impact on Ponyboy, as he questions the point of violence between the two groups. In Chapter 7, Randy has a conversation with Ponyboy and says he is "not going to show up at the rumble" because he is sick and tired of all the fighting. Ponyboy believed that the only good reason to fight was self-defence, as he realized that violence did not solve issues and only created more problems. This realization demonstrates Ponyboy's increased maturity and empathy toward others as he begins to see the world from a better perspective. The Greasers are portrayed as poor hoodlums who live on the east side of the city and have to earn a living, while the Socs are seen as wealthy, privileged, rich kids who drive Mustangs, throw beer blasts, and live on the west side of the city. In Chapter …show more content…

This led them to be considered murderers, and they were forced to run away from the police at all costs. "Johnny! I nearly screamed. "What are we gonna do? They put you in an electric chair for killing people!"Ponyboy had to take care of himself without the help of the older boys in the gang. Ponyboy was forced to grow up and take responsibility for his actions. This ultimately changed him as a person, and he was no longer the innocent boy he was before. This required Ponyboy to mature and that's when he "lost his innocence." "No!" I screamed at him. " I'm fourteen! I have been 14 for a month! And I'm in it as much as you are. I'll stop crying in a minute... I can't help

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