In the novel "The Outsiders," the protagonist is a young man named Ponyboy Curtis. Ponyboy is a member of the lower-class "greasers" who are constantly at odds with the wealthier "Socs" in their town. Despite the challenges he faces, Ponyboy is a kind, intelligent, and sensitive individual who strives to do the right thing, even in the face of violence and prejudice.
Ponyboy's journey begins when his older brother, Darry, becomes angry with him for coming home late and hits him. This act of violence is a sign of the tension and conflict that exists within Ponyboy's family and within the larger society of which they are a part. Darry, who is struggling to keep the family together in the absence of their parents, is overwhelmed by the responsibility he bears and takes out his frustration on Ponyboy.
As the story progresses, Ponyboy becomes increasingly aware of the class divide that separates the greasers from the Socs. He is shocked by the casual cruelty of the Socs, who seem to take pleasure in harassing and intimidating the greasers. However, he also learns that not all Socs are the same, and that some are capable of showing kindness and understanding.
Despite the challenges he faces, Ponyboy remains determined to do the right thing and make a positive difference in the world. He is deeply affected by the death of his friend Johnny, who is killed while defending him from a group of Socs. This tragedy drives Ponyboy to stand up for what he believes in and to try to bridge the divide between the greasers and the Socs.
Throughout the novel, Ponyboy grapples with issues of loyalty, family, and identity. He struggles to find his place in a world that seems to be constantly at war with itself, and to reconcile his desire for a better life with the realities of his circumstances. In the end, he emerges as a more mature and confident individual, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.
In conclusion, Ponyboy Curtis is a complex and sympathetic protagonist who embodies the struggles and triumphs of adolescence. Through his experiences, the reader is able to gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural issues that shape the world in which he lives, and to appreciate the resilience and determination that enable him to overcome them.
The Outsiders: Protagonist
He proves to be empathetic, caring, and a dreamer. Throughout the novel, Ponyboy struggles with class division, violence, innocence, and familial love. One day the greasers and socs fight until both took it too far. He's supposed to be a greaser and everyone considers him to be one, but with his level of maturity and age he is elevated to something more. Like someone jumped him and his parents are really mean to him. Ponyboy considers Dallas Winston, or Dally, to be his least favorite member of the Greasers. Because his parents have died in a car accident, Ponyboy lives with his brothers Darry and Sodapop.
Who Is The Protagonist In The Outsiders?
The interesting part, however, is that Cherry Valance, a soc, described the Socs to be emotionless and apathetic, which led them to use violence to express their feelings. She befriends Ponyboy in the novel and helps him to see that some Socs are nice people, too. Sodapop is a high school dropout who enjoys working with cars and works at a gas station. A portion of his childhood was spent in prison, and this experience only further hardened his cold exterior. The author brought out many personalities to capture the mood and characters of the teenagers in her era.
The Outsiders Character Analysis Activity
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Ponyboy generally finds Dally cold and mean, especially compared to the other members of the gang. Below, are some of the characters that were interesting. He aims an unloaded gun at an officer, and the policeman shoots Dally dead. The blue mustang comes back, and Randy and Bob came out of it, looking for their girlfriends. Dally's anger leads to meanness, and we see that hostility in how he treats some of the Greasers, including Ponyboy.
The Outsiders Study Guide
He is 20, hardworking, mature beyond his years and rarely shows his feelings. Buy a week's supply of food as soon as you get there- this morning, before the story gets out, and then don't so much as stick your noses out the door. The quote not only speaks for literature, but for everything. He is a risk-taker with a long criminal record, yet he is also a loyal and compassionate friend. Ponyboy is very courageous and helps others. He spends his free time slashing Tim Shepard's tires for fun, and he only ever decides to steer away from trouble when Johnny asks him to do so. I was going back to school the next morning after missing nearly a week of school.
Dally Winston in The Outsiders by SE Hinton
Darry makes these kind of sacrifices for his brothers. During the story, Darry is always telling Ponyboy, although he is a intelligent kid, that he needs to use his head. Dally has angular features that Ponyboy compares to an elf and a lynx. Hinton is about the conflict between two rival gangs, the greasers, and the Socs. On the other side, Cherry characterized the greasers to be too emotional which led them to antagonize the Socs and causing conflicts. As tensions rise between the two groups, members of both gangs take sides and become involved in violent altercations until finally one night they clash in an all-out brawl. Ponyboy is a member of the Greasers, a street gang that fights with a rival group known as the Socs.
