THE OUTSIDERS The main theme of The Outsiders is self-identity vs. group identity. There is evidence for this theme in the title itself, as the Outsiders form their own group (the greasers) because they feel they're on the outside of society. Some of the main characters are Ponyboy, Dallas, Johnny, Sodapop, Darry, Two-bit. The outsiders have self-identity vs. group identity as the Outsiders form their own group (the greasers) because they feel they're on the outside of society. However, Ponyboy still feels like an outsider in many ways and struggles with his identity in and out of the greaser gang. In the outsiders written by S.E. Hinton the reader learns that self-identity vs. group identity. …show more content…
They weren't looking for a fight. They were looking to belong.” The reader learns that the groups self identify because they feel they're on the outside of society.. In the story,Ponyboy still feels like an outsider in many ways and struggles with his identity in and out of the greaser gang. . In the text, it states“It's okay. We aren't in the same class. Just don't forget that some of us watch the sunset too.``Chapter 3, paragraphs 17–18, in which Cherry and Ponyboy talk about sunsets.This shows that group identity because Ponyboy is telling himself that people are not always different and that some may seem different but when you meet this person, he/she could be a lot similar to you. Although Chery seems to be a soc, he finds out later that she is similar because she watches the sunset just like Ponyboy does.in addition the reader learns that The Outsiders is self-identity vs. group identity. because the outsider sees things differently than someone who is directly involved in a way of life. In the story, the greasers get into fights a lot. In the text, it states Skin fighting isn't rough. It blows off steam better than anything. This shows that they get into fights because they are the greasers and they're poor so