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Individual Identity In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

257 Words2 Pages
S.E. Hinton’s realistic novel, The Outsiders, takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1965 where there is a rivalry between the Socs and Greasers. Ponyboy, is a Greaser who is different than most. He loves movies, books, and learning, he’s the smartest Greaser in his gang. One lesson the story suggest is that identity is founded by people you associate with and experience you face. While some believe the strongest theme of The Outsiders is loyalty, I argue that the strongest theme is individual identity, as supported by S.E. Hinton’s use of dialog, metaphors, and allegory. From the beginning, the dialog and details show how Ponyboy is discovering his identity. Hinton says, “There isn’t any real good reason for fighting except self-defense” (Hinton
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