Self Image In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

144 Words1 Pages
Self-image influences one's behavior because one does not want to appear socially unacceptable, which would harm one’s self-image as a consequence. In S. E. Hinton’s young adult novel The Outsiders, Cherry Valance, a popular Soc, expresses reluctance about initiating a friendship with Ponyboy Curtis, a greaser. Cherry admits, “‘Ponyboy…I mean…if I see you in the hall at school or someplace and don’t say hi…it’s not personal or anything’” (45). As a Soc, Cherry would sooner maintain an unblemished reputation than foster a relationship with Ponyboy, anxious at the prospect of other Socs seeing them together. Befriending someone heavily stigmatized would devastate Cherry’s social image, which proves detrimental to her self-image. After all, how