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The Outsiders Essay

525 Words3 Pages

"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton is a novel published in 1967 that follows the story of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a member of a group called the Greasers. This story is set around the 1960s in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The novel explores significant themes of social classes, the importance of family, identity and many more. The setting of “The Outsiders” is Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 1960s. The story itself is set in a neighbourhood divided into two halves, by the social class of each individual. The Greasers, a poorer and more challenged group of teenagers, reside on the area's East Side. They are seen as outsiders by the rest of the neighbourhood. While the Socs, a wealthier and more privileged group of teenagers, run the region’s West Side. They have many more opportunities and privileges in comparison to the Greasers. The setting portrayed within the book reflects the social and economic issues of the time period. The novel explores social classes, identity and the struggle for acceptance, which reflects the 1960s as a time of great change in society in the US. …show more content…

This theme appears throughout the story numerous times to show the importance of family bonds and the impact they can have on one’s life. Examples of when this theme is portrayed in the book are the Curtis brothers’ bond, Johnny’s relationship with his abusive parents and the relationship between all the members of the Greasers. To further elaborate on the Curtis brothers’ bond with each other, they have such a strong bond together because they have gone through so many difficult times. This bond is strong enough for them to risk their own lives to save one another. The examples shown throughout the novel demonstrate that the bond of family is not only blood but an indestructible connection of love, support and

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