Conflicts In The Outsiders

Have you ever felt like a greaser? Have you ever gotten bullied because of your financial status? The novel, The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton, is about two groups, one group is called the soc, but we call them “The rich people”. The second group is the greasers, as we know them “The poor people.'' They are rivals, both parties despise each other in every way possible. The soc jumps the greasers and the greasers fight back. They are not friends. Though in future chapters you might be surprised. A young teenage girl named cherry is a soc but is nice to a greaser and later on they become good friends. The main idea, or theme, of the novel, is that no matter your social life or your financial state we are all just humans and we are all the same.

For example, in Chapter 1, Ponyboy's parents were killed in a car accident. This was hard on him and his brothers Darry and Soda but they got to stay together only if they stayed out of trouble. This textual evidence shows “Since mom and dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us get to stay together only as long as we behave”(Hilton 3). This is an example of a Man vs. Self-conflict because they are going through a rough time mentally and emotionally. Another conflict in the novel, The Outsiders, happens when Cherry is unable to go see johnny in the hospital. For example, in Chapter 8, She feels like she would betray bob if she were to go see johnny because he killed bob. This textual evidence shows “I can’t go see johnny. I know I’m too young to be in love and all that, but bob was something special” (Hilton 129). This is also an example of a Man vs. Self-conflict because she thinks if she sees Johnny she feels bad. After all, she thinks she will betray bob by visiting his killer in the hospital. Not only do characters in The Outsiders struggle with conflicts within themselves, but they also struggle with other

For example, in Chapter 3, Johnny and Ponyboy fell asleep in the lot and when they woke up it was already really late so Ponyboy decided to go back home and when he did Dally and Soda were waiting for him. This textual evidence shows “He should never yell at soda. Nobody should ever holler at my brother. I exploded.” You don’t yell at him!” I shouted. Darry wheeled around and slapped me so hard that it knocked me against the door” (Hilton 50). This is an example of a Man vs. Man conflict because there is arguing and physical touch. Another conflict in the novel, The Outsiders, happens when Johnny stabs bob to stop him from drowning Ponyboy. For example, in Chapter 4, bob was drowning Ponyboy in a water fountain and johnny pulled out the knife that he was carrying on him and shook off the other socs that were beating him up and he stabs bob to save Ponyboy. This textual evidence shows “Then I saw johnny. He was sitting next to me, one elbow on his knee, and staring straight ahead. He was a strange greenish-white, and his eyes were huger than I’d ever seen them. “I killed him.” This is an example of a Man vs. Man conflict because someone was murdered and he was trying to murder someone but was stopped by getting stabbed. Not only do the outsiders struggle with man vs. self, but they also struggle hard with man vs,