Conflicts In The Outsiders

Certain degrees of circumstances and situations can strengthen an individual’s resistance to change, especially adversely, which demonstrates one’s ability to sustain a stable character within. The Outsiders, a renowned novel was written by Susan Eloise Hinton, a 17 year-old teenager at the time in 1967 whom captures the surrounding of her generation within the perspectives of differing relationships throughout the book. The novel depicts two rival societal groups, the Socs (formally known, Socials) and the Greasers, whom segregate based on differing social and economical values. Characters belonging in both groups are faced with a series of conflicts that expose their dynamic or static perspectives and personalities throughout the progression

Sodapop, as a static character, maintains a congenial and empathetic charisma as shown through the Soc’s attack on Ponyboy, Ponyboy running away after associating with Bob Sheldon’s murder and the fight between Darry and Pony towards the end of the novel.

Despite being a minor character, Sodapop Curtis resembles a comforting and understanding figure as shown through the Soc’s attacking Ponyboy. This first scene within the novel features a group of Socials ganging up on Pony after he departed from a local movie house. He continuously affects his relationships and surrounding as “Soda tries to understand at least, which is more than Darry…Soda is different from anybody; he understands everything, almost” (Hinton 2). Soda’s true colors are demonstrated as he comforts Ponyboy after the attack, “Easy Ponyboy, they ain’t gonna hurt you no more (Hinton 7)…“You’re an okay kid Ponyboy” (Hinton 8). Within this, Soda displays an inimitable relationship with his younger brother, Ponyboy, which expresses his static traits throughout several major

After Ponyboy and Darry have a dispute, yelling about Pony’s lack of attentiveness in school Sodapop runs out of the house and to the park where he expresses his direct feelings regarding the conflict. “I can’t stand to hear y’all fight…It’s like I’m the middleman in a tug o’ war and I’m being split in half (Hinton 175)”. Following that he expresses, “I can’t take sides…but I can see both sides…we’re all we got left. We ought a be able to stick together against everything. If we don’t have each other, we don’t have anything. (Hinton 175).” Through this profound discussion with his two brothers we see Sodapop’s layers emerge as his role as the peacemaker within the family radiates. He emphasizes his sensitive side by vocalizing his opinions in a manner that maintains his empathic and solemn personality. Likewise, his sensibility is revealed as he pours out his true feelings to Darry and Pony, remaining eligible as the mediator within the family. In being the mediator in conflict he keeps the family in order, being the glue sticking each of the brothers relationships closer together. Within this event he communicates that he grounds his opinions and actions based on family values, prioritizing his family’s stability and connectivity as key. He remains a constant personality in the way he prioritizes the state of his brothers, anticipating