The Outsiders

THE OUTSIDERS

The Outsiders is having the class struggle type of genre. The story takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the mid-1960s. Ponyboy Curtis, as the narrator, tells the story in first-person. He is the youngest within his gang, known as the Greasers. The society is divided into three groups; the Socs, the Greasers, and the ones in the middle. The Socs are known for their wealth. Ponyboy narrates the story in a subjective way. He is a 14 years old boy who lost his parents in a car accident. He lives with his two brothers, Darry and Sodapop. Darry keeps on scolding Ponyboy for not using his commonsense albeit he is smart. Throughout the novel, Ponyboy struggles over discrimination, violence, and love.

Darrel Curtis, Ponyboy's oldest brother, also known as Darry is a 22 years old greaser. He is raising Ponyboy due to the death of their parents. Darry quits school and works two jobs to keep the family together. He bakes delicious chocolate cakes for breakfast every day. He is strong, athletic and intelligent. He is the unofficial leader of the greasers. All the others call him "Superman".

Sodapop Curtis, the other brother of Ponyboy. Ponyboy is more comfortable around Sodapop, as his brother is a happy-go-lucky person. Sodapop defends Ponyboy whenever Darry gets upset. He is the one who brings them together. He plans to marry a greaser girl, called Sandy. Unfortunately, in one of the chapters, it is mentioned Sandy is expecting somebody else's baby. She moved to Florida to live with her grandmother. Sodapop works together with his best friend, Steve Randle, in a gas station. Steve knows all about cars, and he likes to steal hubcaps. He is tall and lean. He is also intelligent, but cocky. He is one tough greaser. He once fought of four opponents with a broken soda bottle. He doesn't like Ponyboy very much, he thinks of Ponyboy as an annoying little kid.

Keith, the real name of Two-Bit Mathews. He is the joker of the group. He shoplifts regularly. His most prized possession is his switchblade. He is the one who initiates the hostility between the Socs and the Greasers by flirting with a Soc's girlfriend, Marcia.

Cherry Valance is a Soc cheerleader whom Ponyboy meets at the movies. She is Bob's girlfriend. Her real name is Sherri, but people call her Cherry because of her red hair. Ponyboy and Cherry find they have a lot in common and Ponyboy feels comfortable with her. She is both offended and attracted to Dally. She admires Dally's individuality. She tells Ponyboy if she sees Dally again, she will fall in love with him. After some time, Cherry becomes a spy for the greaser.

Johnny Cade, a 16 years old greaser who is a child of alcoholic and abusive parents. Albeit he doesn't succeed in school, he approaches things intellectually with high concentration. His parents don't care about him, so he sees the greasers as his own family. Johnny as a nervous and sensitive person suddenly turns violent in chapter 4. Johnny killed Bob, a Soc, as he is trying to defend Ponyboy and himself. They flee to a church and hide there. They have supplies for weeks. Later, Ponyboy recites a Robert Frost poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay" from a book. Johnny feels