Innocence In S. Hinton's The Outsiders

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J.K Rowling once wrote, “Always the innocent are the first victims, so it has been for ages past, so it is now.” in other words, Rowling said that the innocent are always the first to learn about death, suffering, and the horrendous things in life. In S.E Hinton’s The Outsiders, Johnny, one of the two protagonists in the story, stabs a Soc, also known as a popular kid, while defending Ponyboy, the other protagonist. Their innocence prevails despite the horrendous circumstances Ponyboy and Johnny are put under in the novel.
Ponyboy’s experiences as a greaser shows that innocence will prevail through any horrible situation. For example, when Johnny, his best friend, kills someone--”’I killed him,’ he [Johnny] said slowly. ‘I killed that boy’”

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