Stereotypes In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

The Outsiders The Outsiders was written nearly 50 years ago and schools still use it in the classroom today. It was based around stereotypes of groups, such as Greasers, in the book. Ponyboy, the main character, is different than most Greasers because he is smart and likes to read. In S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, people’s stereotypes for the greasers aren’t always what they seem to be. People in societies make fun and call people many different names because of the way they act and live their lives. Ponyboy gets yelled at because he is a greaser. (Ponyboy) “One time in biology I had to dissect a worm, (…) I used my switchblade, (…) the girl right beside me gasped and said, ‘They are right. You are a hood’” (Hinton 15). Greasers also think because they’re greasers when someone likes them it’s a surprise and they think it’s just a joke. (Two Bit) “He took a piece of paper out of his pocket and tore it up. (…) ‘Marcia’s number. Probably a phony one, too.’ (Johnny) ‘It was because we were greasers” …show more content…
Ponyboy has a parent figure, Darry, but he believes he doesn’t love him which is affecting their relationship. “Darry thought I was just another mouth to feed and somebody to holler at. Darry love me? (…) I don’t care about Darry. But I was always lying and I knew it. I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me” (18). Johnny also had parenting troubles because he was always being abused by his dad to top it off he gets jumped by a Soc (Social) and had a horrific story to proof it. (Pony) “I had seen Johnny take a whipping with a 2x4 from his old man. (…) It wasn’t that they had beaten him have to death-he could take that. They had scared him” (33). In life when you meet someone new you don’t know where they come from or what they have been through because you just met them. All you know is their name, a couple facts, and were quick to