The Outsiders by Hinton

Thesis Statement

Hinton examines The Outsiders as a coming-of-age novel, focusing on Ponyboy's choices between growing up too soon and never growing up.

Introduction

Often considered the most successful novelist for the junior high and high school audience, S. E. Hinton (born 1948) is credited with creating the genre of realistic young adult literature with the publication of her first book, The Outsiders (1967), at the age of seventeen.

Discussion

Self-discovery is one of the most important journeys a person can take. Life changes when a person realizes his/her own true self. The novel "The Outsiders", deals with affairs that are very close to the hearts of teens (Demo & Sevin-Williams, pp. 763-74). The story is about fourteen years old Ponyboy who is tough and confused. The author S.E. Hinton tells the story of the young main character Ponyboy who goes on a quest that leads to self discovery; as he learns from his loyal brother Sodapop to not fight with Darry, from examining his life not to use violence, and from his friend Johnny to "Stay gold". In Jane Yolen's poem Open a book, the main theme of self-discovery it developed, by using a free verse poem to discover the world through Books (Kohr, pp. 467-81).

Although Darry and Ponyboy will probably still have misunderstandings, they are able to stop fighting with the help of their brother Sodapop. At first, Ponyboy thinks that Darry does not like him because he always hollers and fights with him. One day at night, Ponyboy and Darry are fighting because Ponyboy is getting bad grades at school (Kohr, pp. 467-81). Sodapop becomes nervous from this fight and he runs away from home. He is angry and frustrate because of the tension at home and he wants to live like one strong family. Darry and Ponyboy become worried about Sodapop, and then they go and search for him. After they find him, Sodapop tells them:

'"Please. Do not fight anymore"

"We're not going to fight anymore." Darry said softly

"Sure little buddy, we're not going to fight anymore."

"No more fights. Okay, Ponyboy"

"Okay," I said. And I meant it." (Hinton, 184-185)

Ponyboy understands what Sodapop means and he decides do anything to stop hurting him or his brothers. Later on, Ponyboy begins to realize that Darry truly loves and cares about him. He knows that Darry has been strict with him because he does not want to lose him. Ponyboy thinks that he use selfish with Darry and he use to hate him because he does not ever trying to understand Darry (Richman, pp. 555-66). After Ponyboy decides to stop fighting with Darry, he becomes able to understand the value of his family.

After the fight between the Sacs and the Greaser, Ponyboy becomes introspective of his thoughts and emotions and through self-examination, he is able to analyze, why he fights? While Johnny is in the hospital a big fight between the Greaser and the Socs begins. When twenty two of the Socs arrive, they see twenty greasers Darry start the fight between ...