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Personalities And Worldviews In The Outsiders, By S. E. Hinton

427 Words2 Pages

Jonny Cade and Ponyboy Curtis, the two main characters in S.E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders," share similar struggles but differ in their personalities and worldviews. Despite their different personalities, Jonny and Ponyboy share several similarities. Firstly, both characters come from difficult family backgrounds. Ponyboy's parents have passed away, and he lives with his two older brothers who struggle to provide for him. Jonny's parents are abusive, and he often runs away from home to avoid them ("I don't know how to tell you. They don't give a damn about me. It's like they ain't even my parents," Chapter 1, page 11). Secondly, both characters value loyalty and brotherhood. Jonny is fiercely loyal to his gang and will do anything to protect them, while Ponyboy feels a strong sense of loyalty to his friends and family ("I had to be sure …show more content…

Firstly, Jonny is more timid and insecure than Ponyboy. He often looks to others for guidance and validation, while Ponyboy is more independent and self-assured ("I had to ask Dally. I didn't know what to do" Chapter 3, page 41 and "I knew it, almost like I'd planned it. I had to be the one to do it, the one to go in and get him" Chapter 9, page 117). Secondly, Jonny has a history of violence and has been in trouble with the law before, while Ponyboy is generally a law-abiding citizen ("We both know that all of us will have record as long as we live. But you saved those little kids. That makes up for it all" Chapter 4, page 54 and "I'd rather have anybody's hate than their pity" Chapter 8, page 100). Finally, Jonny has a fatalistic view of life, believing that he is destined to die young, while Ponyboy is more optimistic and hopeful about his future ("I don't want to die now. It ain't long enough" Chapter 4, page 58 and "I used to talk about killing myself...but I don't want to die now. It ain't long enough" Chapter 12, page

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They support their friends who are going through hard times even if they are going through hard times themselves. Ponyboy lived up to this belief by sticking with Johnny even after he killed Bob, and by fighting in the rumble while in a weak state to fight for his friends. First, when Johnny killed Bob, there wasn’t a hesitant thought in Ponyboy’s head when Dally advised them to run away. Ponyboy knew the magnitude of the murder and even though he didn’t commit it, he went into hiding with Johnny.

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This shows how he gained back his self-confidence and his ability to stand up for himself. Johnny finally found his acceptance from Dally when Dally said, “We’re all so proud of you” (148). When Dally said that Ponyboy noticed Johnny’s eyes glowing, “Dally was proud of him... That was all he ever wanted” (148). In the letter he wrote to Ponyboy, “It’s worth saving those kids...

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