Ponyboy's Identity In The Outsider

Identity is who someone is and who they are as a person. For Ponyboy finding his identity was difficult because he was labeled a greaser before he really figured out what a greaser was. It was only through his journey of becoming a greaser that he realized who he was, and what he stood for. Ponyboy develops his identity throughout the book in many ways. In the beginning of the book Ponyboy is trusting, scared, and compassionate towards others. Ponyboy is content with being a greaser and likes his lifestyle. Pony depends on his friends a lot. They lift him up, they reassure him, and they protect him. He is also pretty scared of the Socs. In one seen from the book he gets jumped and is really scared. In the text they state, “I knew I was as white as I felt and I was shaking like a leaf.” (Hinton, 8) As you can see Pony can get really scared when jumped by Socs. Pony is also very compassionate. He cares for his friends. …show more content…
He and Johnny have to run away. Another big moment in the book is when Pony and Johnny save some little kids from a burning building. Pony starts to realize how important life is and all the important things you can do in your life. Johnny and Pony come across an interesting poem when hiding in the church. In the text it referenced the poem titled, Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost, “‘Nature’s first green is gold. Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leafs a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief. So dawn goes down today. Nothing gold can stay.”’ (Hinton 76) Pony is no longer free anymore, now he has to be in