Book Summary: The Outsiders

The Outsiders is a story comprising of about two weeks in the life of a 14-year-old boy. The novel tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis, and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is undeniably an outsider. Ponyboy and his two brothers, Darrel ( referred to as Darry) and Sodapop, have recently lost their parents in an automobile accident. Pony and Soda stay with Darry, as long as they all behave themselves. The boys are “Greasers”, a class term that refers to the young men considered to be hoodlums, or juvenile delinquents by society. They are visually noticeable by their tell-tale hairstyle, consisting of a slicked back, or greasy, hair. Other than being financially and socially disadvantaged, the Greasers'

Ponyboy's academic accomplishments and literary interest set him apart from the rest of his gang. Throughout the story, Ponyboy struggles with maturity, class division, violence, innocence, and familial love among others. He matures over the course of the novel, eventually coming to realize the importance of strength in the face of class bias in society.
Darrell Curtis is Ponyboy's oldest brother. Darrell, known as "Darry," is a twenty-year-old greaser who is raising Ponyboy and Soda, because of their parent’s death. He is described as strong, athletic, and intelligent. Darry is forced to quit school and works two jobs to hold the family together. The unofficial leader of the greasers, he becomes an authority figure for Ponyboy. He also makes good chocolate cake, which he and his brothers eat every day for breakfast. The other greasers call him "Superman."
Sodapop Curtis is described as Ponyboy's handsome, happy-go-lucky brother. Sodapop is the middle-aged sibling of the three brothers. Ponyboy envies Sodapop's good looks and charm. Sodapop plans to marry Sandy, a greaser

Looking at life as an outsider and feeling as though one is being treated as an outsider is a matter of perspective and may make one feel that life is unfair. Adolescence is a dramatic and deeply confusing time in life, when teenagers may consider themselves to be adults, yet find themselves still under the control of others. Parents, teachers, and other authority figures are always telling them how to live their lives. This loss of control inevitably leads to the feeling that life is unjust. Ponyboy knows that he is not safe walking the streets in his own neighborhood. He could be attacked solely because of the way he is dressed, or the side of town in which he is from. This makes Ponyboy feel like an outsider, even in his own town. His feelings of powerlessness and vulnerability lead him to conclude that life is not fair. Ponyboy sees social injustice on a daily basis. His parents are dead, Darry is forced to work two jobs to support the brothers, Soda has dropped out of school, and the greasers are looked upon as "white trash." He alludes that the gang warfare is metaphor of the war between the economic classes. Because he is from the poor, East Side of town, his place in life is unfairly predetermined. The evolution and importance of family relationships is a recurrent theme in the novel as well. Family relationships are strained during the teen years, but in the Curtis family, the right to stay together as a family is a