Reckless Behavior In The Outsiders

In the Outsiders there are instances of reckless behavior. It is an important element to the story as it shows the behaviors and tendencies of many of the characters. The reckless behavior leads to many of the major events in the book.

The first instance of this is shown in chapter four when Bob and the rest of the Socs tried to kill Ponyboy. On page 55 Bob said “You could use a bath, greaser. And a good working over. And we’ve got all night to do it. Give the kid a bath David.” Bob was drunk and having David attempt to kill Ponyboy. This caused Johnny to rush over and kill Bob on protective instinct. This is what causes Ponyboy and Johnny to run away and, it gave the whole Greaser-Soc fight something more to fight about. It also made Darry and Sodapop worry sick about Ponyboy.

The second time reckless behavior shone through was in chapter six. Johhny and Ponyboy had been smoking inside of the old church they had been livng in. Some of their ashes fell onto the ground and started a fire. Ponyboy and Johnny knew this because Ponyboy said this on page 91 “I bet we started it,’ I said to Johnny.”We must have dropped a lighted cigarette or something.” But Ponyboy and Johnny heard some screams come from inside the church and a woman proclaimed the it must have been the missing children.

Dally and the rest of the gang were mouring the loss of Johnny but Dally couldn’t take the pressure and robbed a grocery store. He called the whole gang to come pick him up. But when they got there it was to late “I rememberd his voice ‘It aint loaded, but it sure does help a bluff.’... They don’t know when you’re bluffing. And even as the policemans guns spit fire into the night I knew that was what Dally had wanted.”PG 154 This is the last time reckless behavior shines as a pivotal turning point in the book, this gives a gradual slow monotone feeling to the rest of the book as they are all greiving their