Stereotypes In S. E. Hinton's 'The Outsider'

S.E. Hinton's fantastic use of the themes of family, empathy, and identity/stereotypes made the story more engaging. First, she used the theme of family very well by showing the readers how much the Greasers cared for each other even though they weren’t related by blood. Secondly, she used the theme of empathy through the characters of Randy and Ponyboy who learned that they had things in common. Lastly, she used the theme of Identity/Stereotypes by showing us who the Greasers and the Socs really are behind the masks they wear. What is a family business? family is “a group of two or more persons related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together”(Google). S.E. Hinton made this definition wrong, by showing that you can be family even

Throughout the book, we see how much Randy and Ponyboy both change. Both of them realize that the socs and the greasers are all humans and go through hard times. S.E. Hinton used the theme of empathy through the characters of Randy and Ponyboy, who learned that they had things in common. Ponyboy and Randy both acknowledge that they don’t fit the definition of a “grasser” or a “soc”. Randy says to Ponyboy: “Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be Socs. Sometimes I think it's the ones in the middle that are really the lucky stiffs.” (S.E. Hinton (pg 37) Randy is trying to tell Ponyboy that he doesn't see Pony as a greaser but more of just a normal person who cares for everyone around him. Randy also has empathy towards Pony because he's able to share his opinion on Greasers and Socs. Empathy is being aware of and sharing another person's feelings, experiences, and emotions. "You would have saved those kids if you had been there," he said. You'd have saved them the same way we did." "Thanks, grease," he said, trying to grin. Then he stopped, he said. I didn't mean that. I meant, "Thanks, kid." (S.E. Hinton, pg 37) Just in a short amount of time, Randy and Ponyboy have already shown compassion to one another. They both recognize that they are good people and that Randy is already trying to stop using the term “greaser” when talking to Ponyboy. Empathy is the ability to understand someone and to care for someone. I remembered Cherry's voice: Things are rough all over. I knew then what she meant.” ( S.E. Hinton (pg 37) Ponyboy was able to understand that even if you are a soc you still might be going through something. This connected with Randy and Ponyboy's conversation when they were talking about Bob. “Bob was a good guy”. He was the best buddy a guy ever had. I mean, he was a good fighter and tuff and everything, but he was a real person too. You dig a hole in the hole?" I nodded. He's dead -- his mother