Of Labeling People In S. E. Hinton's 'The Outsiders'

Having opinions about other people is something almost everybody has because people want to compare themselves. It can be challenging to manage these beliefs, as they may not always be true or have a deeper meaning than thought. In The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, the danger of judging and labeling people is that there is a misunderstanding.

First, Ponyboy thinks the Socs are all rich, spoiled kids. However, when he talks to Cherry, he realizes that might not always be true. Hinton writes,"’It's not just money. Part of it is, but not all. Your Greasers have a different set of values. You're more emotional than I am. We're sophisticated - cool to the point of not feeling anything.’" (Hinton 38) Ponyboy, like other Greasers, believes that the Socs are rich, spoiled kids. However, this belief is not true because when Ponyboy talks to Cherry, he realizes the Socs are normal kids, even though they are wealthier than the Greasers. Ponyboy labeling the Socs as rich and spoiled kids is a danger because that is false. The only difference

Hinton writes, "'I'm sick of all this. Sick and tired of the snort. Bob is a good guy. He was the best buddy a guy ever had. I mean, he was a good fighter and tough and everything, but he was a real person too.'" (Hinton 116) When Ponyboy and Johnny go to the Park, 5 Socs encounter them, and Ponyboy and Johnny know they are drunk because of how they act. After Johnny kills Bob, one of the Socs, Ponyboy realizes Bob is a normal kid, just like he is. Ponyboy sees Bob as a bully and a mean kid, but that is false. The reason Johnny kills Bob is because Bob and the other Socs are drunk, and they don't know what they are doing. The belief that Ponyboy had on Bob is an example of how labeling people can cause misunderstanding. Greasers can label other Greasers and there is a danger of judging people and there can be