Albert Einstein once said, “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” This quote perfectly describes the alter in Ponyboy’s demeanor towards the Socs. In S.E Hinton’s book, The Outsiders, the main character’s attitude towards the higher class socials changes over the course of the novel, transitioning from feelings of fear and avoidance, to feelings of openness and acceptance.
Ponyboy is labeled a Greaser, which is the opposite of a Soc, therefore pronouncing them rivals. Unlike the others, Pony doesn’t have a “tough guy” “ready-to-fight” approach towards the Socs, but more of a scared, intimidated mindset. He describes the Socs as “... the jet set, the West-side rich kids… [greasers] are poorer than the Socs and the middle class… [the Socs] jump Greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks” (Hinton 2-3). Ponyboy continued his elaboration on the comparison Socs by stating “... [they] get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next. Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while” (3). …show more content…
After undergoing many life-changing experiences, such as the murder of a very prominent Soc and the formerly general, routine bickering among the groups changing to an “all-out warfare all over the city… it’s Soc against Grease. We can’t walk alone at all” (83), Ponyboy gained some new “friends”, along with a new understanding of people. Randy was a buddy of Bob’s (both Socs), and had a talk with Ponyboy after the church fire about Bob. He explained that “Bob was a good guy. He was the best buddy a guy ever had. I mean, he was a good fighter and tuff and everything, but he was a real person too.”
Ponyboy is labeled a Greaser, which is the opposite of a Soc, therefore pronouncing them rivals. Unlike the others, Pony doesn’t have a “tough guy” “ready-to-fight” approach towards the Socs, but more of a scared, intimidated mindset. He describes the Socs as “... the jet set, the West-side rich kids… [greasers] are poorer than the Socs and the middle class… [the Socs] jump Greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks” (Hinton 2-3). Ponyboy continued his elaboration on the comparison Socs by stating “... [they] get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next. Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while” (3). …show more content…
After undergoing many life-changing experiences, such as the murder of a very prominent Soc and the formerly general, routine bickering among the groups changing to an “all-out warfare all over the city… it’s Soc against Grease. We can’t walk alone at all” (83), Ponyboy gained some new “friends”, along with a new understanding of people. Randy was a buddy of Bob’s (both Socs), and had a talk with Ponyboy after the church fire about Bob. He explained that “Bob was a good guy. He was the best buddy a guy ever had. I mean, he was a good fighter and tuff and everything, but he was a real person too.”