The Outsiders Informative Essay

In life, we are constantly learning. Learning new ideas, learning about people, and
learning new lessons. So of course in books we are going to learn lessons. In books, people often
learn because of what the characters are experiencing. Books help to teach us empathy, and we
are able to see into someone else's life in their shoes and their perspective. In “the Outsiders”, the
character of Ponyboy, learns the importance of family, that everyone has difficult things going on
in their lives, and to not judge a book by its cover.

Ponyboy and Darry didn’t always get along. In a lot of families, some siblings clash with
each other more than others. For instance, Ponyboy and Soda got along just fine. Even Darry and
Soda got along. But Ponyboy and Darry were so different that it just didn’t work. Pony was
pretty unfocused and didn’t think before he acted, whereas Darry was the complete opposite. But
even though Darry seemed so hard and uncaring, he actually gave up a lot for his family. He
could have gone to college and done something bigger with his life. Instead, he gave that up to
take care of his brothers. He was so insistent that Pony did well because he wanted to give Pony
what he couldn’t. Soda was also an amazing brother. He was always nice to Pony, and stuck up
for him when Darry was giving him a hard time. The night that Pony had run away, Darry had hit
Pony. After the fact, he felt terrible, and when he finally came home, he was so glad. Pony’s
family wasn’t perfect, but they tried their best, stuck together, and made sacrifices for each other.

Pony learns that even though the Socs seem like they have everything going for them,
they still have a hard time with it sometimes too. They don’t always feel like they have an
identity, and sometimes are just talking to fill up the space. As Cherry Valance said, “Sometimes
I’ll catch myself talking to a girl-friend, and realize I don’t mean half of what I’m saying. I don’t
really think a beer blast on the river bottom is super-cool, but I’ll rave about one to a girl-friend
just to be saying something.” They were always careful to never show their true selves. Maybe
that was because they were afraid. Afraid that something would happen if they said things as
they really were. They felt insecure in who they were, and needed something to make them feel
like they had something. Like they were better than someone else. So they decided to pick on the
Greasers. It wasn’t okay, but everyone makes mistakes, and we have to learn how to forgive
people even when they aren’t the best, because you never know what they might be going
through.
 In the book, we learn to not judge a book by its cover. Not everyone is as they seem. Like
Dally, he puts on a big show. He is hard, and tough and has no softness. But really, he’s pretty
sad and only has the gang that keeps him from just completely losing it. Even though Cherry
seemed like she was probably going to be one of those judgemental cheerleaders who has
everything going for her, she was actually still just super nice. And most importantly, the
Greasers seemed like they were all tough and scary, but they were actually a band of brothers,
coming together to help each other. Not all of the Greasers are like Dally, beating people up and
tormenting them. You also shouldn’t judge a group just because of one member, because the rest
could actually still be awesome.

“The Outsiders” is a wonderful book that teaches us so many lessons. The characters
learn so much, and therefore we also learn a ton through their experiences. Families are so
important. Even if your family doesn’t completely get along or isn’t a regular family, they will
help you to be better and will build you up. The Greasers were kind of like a family. They always
stuck together and stood up for each other. It even said “Johnny was kind of like the gang’s kid
brother.” And they all loved each other like brothers, even when some personalities clashed with
others. Ponyboy also learned that things are hard for everyone. Everyone has something that they
are going through. One challenge might not seem like much to one group, but it is a big deal to
another. The Socs weren’t secure in who they were. Some of them probably didn’t even have a
firm grasp on their identity. They needed something to hold onto. Everyone needs something to
hold onto, to look forward to, to have reason to do things. For some, it is cherishing a family
member. Others, it is putting people down to feel better about yourself. There are different things
people hold onto. Finally, we also learn to not judge a book by its cover. We hear that phrase so
often, but it is one of the most important lessons a person can learn. Dally wasn’t always as he
seemed, Cherry wasn’t always as you expected her to be, and the Greasers as a whole group
weren’t what most people saw on the exterior. What’s inside of something, is much greater than
what is on the outside. All of these lessons are things that Ponyboy learned, and are incredibly
important lessons that will make everyone a better person.