The Cycle Of Violence In 'The Outsiders'

Physical violence was shown in novels more frequently in the past since it was more common in real life, thus readers could grasp the events more vividly; yet, others may find it monotonous and predictable. Most authors nowadays don't use as much violence in their writing, because their readers are unfamiliar with it. Some readers who read historical books may find it brutally disturbing and dramatic. In the past, authors would include such brutality in their stories to reflect current events. “The Outsiders” is one of the novels that contains such brutality and is structured around a class difference between the Socs and the greasers, and what results are a series of rumbles or fights between these two groups. In general, because of how the

For example, the moment when Ponyboy, a greaser, was returning from the movies and saw a red corvair, he pictured himself in Johnny's position when Johnny was being harassed and beaten by the Socs. Ponyboy states, “I had never been jumped, but I had seen Johnny after four Socs got hold of him, and it wasn't pretty.” (page #)? Ponyboy is relating this moment to seeing the corvair rapidly approaching him to the time when Johnny was jumped. Ponyboy knew that he was going to get hurt and after seeing five Socs come out of the car. The reader becomes aware that the Socs intentions were to harm Ponyboy for no specific reason. The cycle of violence that began when Johnny was attacked by the Socs while he was by himself and vulnerable, is the same that happened to Ponynoy. Moreover, tensions are rising between the two groups due to the fact that the Socs get bored and jump the greasers. Since the Socs' economic situation differs greatly from that of the greasers, they believe that because of this higher class, they have the ability to do what they please and more power. As stated in the novel, ‘‘We're poorer than the Socs and the middle class. I reckon we're wilder, too. Not like the Socs, who jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next.’’ This is one of the