“I winced inside.
I’ve told Ponyboy is upset that others
you I can’t stand it that
Soda dropped out. ‘He’s a
dropout,’ I said roughly.
‘Dropout’ made me think
of some poor
dumb-looking hoodlum
wandering the streets
breaking out street
lights—it didn’t fit my
happy-go-lucky brother at
all. It fitted Dally perfectly,
but you could hardly say it
about Soda”
“That was the truth. Socs
were always behind a wall
of aloofness, careful not to
let their real selves show
through. I had seen a
social-club rumble once.
The Socs even fought
coldly and practically and
impersonally”
Johnny almost grinned as
he nodded. “Tuff enough,”
he managed, and by the
way his eyes were
glowing, I figured
Southern gentlemen had
nothing on Johnny Cade.
Soda and Steve and I had
put on more hair oil than
was necessary, but we
wanted to show that we
This quote reflects how quick
stereotype Soda, his older
brother. The true reason that
Soda dropped out was to help
support Pony and help Darry
by getting a job. Also, Soda
just felt stupid in school, he
never got good grades no
matter how hard he tried.
When one looks at Soda they
picture a succeeding high
school student, however, this
is not true. Soda breaks the
cultural mindset by not fitting
into the mold of a typical
dropout.
Pony describes the typical
Soc, cold, distant, and
dissociated from humanity.
He does not truly understand
them because they are polar
opposites of a Greaser. The
Greaser gang is like a small
family, sometimes family isn't
always blood. The Greaser
gang is the closest thing
some members will ever have
to a true family.
Even though Johnny is losing
his life he still has the same
pue fighting spirit. Johnny
was good even to the end. He
did not deserve what he got
but he never complained. He
was strong until the end.
The Greasers are preparing
for a rumble against the Socs.
Usually being a Greaser is
not something to flaunt or
people are to judge or
categorize others. Even
though Soda doesn’t look like
a high school drop out he is.
Society is so quick to put
others in a box that may not
even be true.
This is true for a lot of people
faking themselves through
life. Some people hide who
they truly are for many
reasons, to keep social status
or because they are afraid of
what others might think of
them.
`
Some people no matter what
they go through in life, no
matter how difficult they
never lose the fiery spirit.
They can have everything
taken away and be beaten to
the floor, and still get up and
fight to keep a positive
attitude.Their spirit can never
be crushed no matter the
situation.
Sometimes people feel
trapped and really feel like
they can not truly be
themselves. They may have
were greasers. Tonight we
could be proud of it.
I shook my head. I’d hate
to see the day when I had
to get my nerve from a
can. I’d tried drinking once
before. The stuff tasted
awful, I got sick, had a
headache, and when
Darry found out, he
grounded me for two
weeks.
“Yessir.” “I managed to look
sheepish” “We’re playing
army and I’m supposed to
report to headquarters there”
( Hinton 65).
“Things are rough all over”(
Hinton 35).
“I really couldn't see what
Socs would have to sweat
about- good grades, good
cars, good girls, madras and
Mustangs and Corvairs-Man,
I thought, if I had worries like
show off. However tonight's
the night that they can be
themselves no questions
asked.
Pony does not understand
those that can get a high off
of getting drunk. He would
much rather spend his time
elsewhere rather than getting
drunk. He sees it as pointless
and dislikes it.
After Johnny killed the Soc
out of self-protection, he and
Pony head up to the country
for protection. This quote
reveals that Pony is not only
book smart he is also street
smart. He can think on his
feet.
Cherry says this to Pony
when they are taking at the
drive-in. Pony believes that
the Socs have it easier
because they were born on
the privileged side of town.
He thinks that due to their
money they do not have a
care in the world, however,
they still struggle with
problems in life like everyone
else.
Pony does not understand
what the Socs have to worry
about. He compares his life to
the lives of the Socs and
believes that they have their
whole lives together. He looks
to hide who they are. It is sad
that others can not accept
people for who they are.
Because nothing is better
than being themselves and
not be ashamed of who they
are. No matter what.
Some people do not need
stimulants in life to have a
good time. A natural high is
the best high to have.
Sometimes life requires one
to think quick. Be on their feet
and come up with abstract
solutions in life’s difficult
problems.
Society tends to compare
and put others on pedestals
or idealize their lives.
Sometimes one believes that
someone they know or
maybe even has not met has
no problem in the world, or
has life all figured out. That is
not true, one can never really
truly tell what is going on in
one’s life or what they have
been though.
People often do this. People
with little money may idolize
the lives of the rich and
powerful. Believing that they
do not have a care in the
world because of wealth.
that I’d consider myself
lucky”( 36 Hinton).
“It’s not money, it’s feeling-
you don’t feel anything and
we feel too violently”(Hinton
38).
“I could just tell. I bet you
watch sunsets, too.” She
was quiet for a minute
while I nodded. “I used to
watch them, too, before I
got so busy…”
“You’re living in a vacuum,
Pony, and you’re going to
have to cut it out. Johnny
and Dallas were our
buddies, too, but you don’t
just stop living because
you lose someone.”
at his life, no parents, little
money, and living with the
threat of getting jumped
because he is a Greecer. He
finds he has much more to
worry about and more
problems than the Socs.
Pony is questioning the
reason behind the Greasers
and the Socs separation.
Cherry says that they shut
their feelings off and the
Greasers allow themselves to
feel too intensely. They are
on two opposite ends of the
poll. Like the Classics and the
Romantics, they have
different views on life and
thus disagree.
Pony is talking with Cherry at
the drive-in.They talked about
sunsets and Pony’s love of
them. Before Cherry got
wrapped up in the world of
social status she used to
enjoy watching them as well.
Now she is too busy worried
about keeping her title to
notice the little things.
Pony just gave up after the
loss of his friends. He gave
up on school and has been
withdrawn from life. He puts
his life aside because of the
emotional impact the losses
had on him. He has no
motivation to do anything, this
quote reflects some pivotal
advice given by his older
However they still have
problems and worries, a
wealthy person may have
less of a sense of family
connection than a person of
less money. This is due to the
fact that they may have
missed out on a lot of quality
family moments because of
their thirst for money. They
may be alone and terrified of
losing their wealth.
This concept can be
compared to any opposing
parties. People have different
ways of viewing and living
life.
Sometimes life gets so busy it
is important to slow down and
recognize the beauty around
oneself. Taking time to
appreciate the little things
gives one a sense of
appreciation.
Even though losing a friend
or loved one is very difficult it
is important to take time to
mourn their loss, however,
one can not let it consume
their lives, bring them into
depression and that being all
they focused on. Their loved
ones may be gone but it is
still important that they keep
 brother. on with their lives.

“Listen, kiddo, when Darry
hollers at you … he don’t
mean nothin’. He’s just got
more worries than
somebody his age ought
to. Don’t take him
serious…you dig, Pony?”
Pony is feeling upset that his Sometimes situations in life
older brother Darry is so hard call people to take
on him. He doesn't responsibility. The loss of
understand why Darry is so parents, a devoice, or living
strict and confides in Soda. with deadbeat parents call
Soda explains that Darry is children to step into positions
raising both him and Pony very early in life.
and Darry is barely an adult
himself. Darry was forced to
grow up much faster than he
should have and take on
much more responsibility than
a typical person his age due
to the death of their parents.
Darry is strict on Pony
because he loves him and
wants what is best for his little
brother.

“Stay gold, Ponyboy.” “Stay
gold…”(Hinton 148).
These were the last words
spoken to Pony by Jonny
before he passed away.
Johnny was reciting one of
Ponyboy’s favorite poems
“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by
Robert Frost. The world
seems to light up just before
sunset, turning the world
gold. Just for a few moments,
everything is bright and
perfect then it goes dark.
Just like a person's outlook
on life, a tragic event or loss
of a loved one has the
potential to turn someone
cold and dark. Johnny tells
Pony that no matter what life
throws his way, he must
never let himself grow cold
and bitter.

Dally didn’t die a hero. He
died violent and young
and desperate, just like we
all knew he’d die
someday…But Johnny
was right. He died gallant.
Pony is mourning the loss of It is sad to say that this is still
his friends Dally and Johnny. true today. Children with no
Johnny and Dallas were two direction in life still die on the
opposites, Dallas being streets. Children like Dally
violent and aggressive and still have good in them.
Jonny timid and kind. They
both died in ways reflecting
themself. Johnny dies a hero
saving children from a
burning building. Dally died a

“Well I won’t. But I gotta
do something. It seems
like there’s gotta be
someplace without
greasers or Socs, with just
people. Plain, ordinary
people.”
cold unforgiving death the
death of a typical Greaser.
Dally got shot by the police
after attempting to rob a
store.
Pony is wishing for a world
without division. He longs for
a place that everyone is equal
no division of class.
Somewhere where people
can just be people. Where the
line between Soc and
Greaser doesn't exist.
This is still a problem in
society today. A lot of minority
groups still face
discrimination. The world
would be a much better place
if everyone accepted each
other no matter their race,
religion, sexuality, or social
class.