The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is a novel based in the 1960’s during a very turbulent time in American history. It tells the story of a 14 year old boy named Ponyboy and his friends, who all belong to a gang named Greasers from the East Side. They’re oppressed by the wealthy group named the Socials (Socs) from the West Side. The two groups wreck havoc across their territories by getting into fights and rumbles. At the beginning of the novel, Ponyboy states “I...have a high IQ and everything, but I don’t use my head”. Throughout the novel Ponyboy demonstrates his claim of not using his head by getting into a car with a stranger, overdosing on aspirins without telling Sodapop or Dally and running into a burning church. These decisions put Ponyboy in many dangerous situations throughout his journey. …show more content…
After winning the fight, Dally and Ponyboy go to see their friend Johnny; who’s in critical condition at the hospital, only for Johnny to die right when they come. Heartbroken, Dally leaves without telling Ponyboy where he’s going, leaving Ponyboy to try and walk home all by himself. Ponyboy explains: “I walked down the hall in a daze. Dally had taken the car and I started the long walk home in a stupor. Johnny was dead.” Later on, an unknown person asks Ponyboy if he’d like to be dropped off. “I might have stumbled around all night except for a man who asked me if I wanted a ride. “Huh? Oh, Yeah, I guess so,” I said, getting in.” As the quote suggests, Ponyboy gets inside the car with no suspicion of getting kidnapped or anything worse. This is one of the many ways that Ponyboy doesn't use his head throughout the