Character Analysis: The Outsiders, By S. E. Hinton

In the novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, a young boy, Ponyboy, finds himself in serious trouble when his friend kills a member of their rival gang and they are both forced to go into hiding or turn themselves in to be sent into the system or a foster home. Ponyboy’s parents died when he was young and his older brother Darry became the main provider for him and his brother Sodapop. Events around their neighborhood had never been too bad until one night, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny get into a fight with five Socs and it gets extremely out of hand. After Johnny kills the Soc Ponyboy’s brothers and fellow gang members have to help them clean up the mess that they had made. Ponyboy should be able to remain in the care of his brothers because they love him and they are the only family he has left.

Ponyboy’s brothers love him very much but he does cause many problems. Although Ponyboy might be happy while living with his brothers, there is positive reasoning behind him going into the system or to a foster home. "How'd you like that haircut to begin just below the neck?" (5). This shows that Ponyboy would be better off in a home because he wouldn’t be put in dangerous situations or fight as much. On the other hand, his older brothers will always look out for him and never let him down. Additionally, Ponyboy should remain loyal to his gang and his brothers because they are the only family he has left. “You take up for your buddies no matter what they do. When you're in a gang, you stick up for the members.” (66). This shows that Ponyboy is showing no indications …show more content…
Darry and Sodapop are there to comfort him when he is sad. And his fellow gang members are always there to protect him when he gets into trouble. In conclusion, Ponyboy should should stay in the hands of his brothers and not be sent to a foster home or into the system because he is being properly cared for and loved very