The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton, is a novel that explores the challenges faced by Ponyboy Curtis and his fellow gang members, growing up in the town of Tulsa, Oklahoma whilst living in the crossfire of two rival gangs: the Greaser and the Socs. During Ponyboy's journey he learns many important lessons, but after several tragic events, three key lessons stand out from all others. These are: to “stay gold,” not to judge others too quickly others and the pointless of violence. One of the most important lessons Ponyboy learns in The Outsiders is to, “Stay gold.” At the end of the novel, just before Johnny Cade dies he tells Ponyboy to “stay gold”, in saying this, he means that he should stay innocent and to not change who he is as a person. This is an important moment as, after Johnny dies, Ponyboy is very distraught and becomes more like the other Greasers. For example, he starts taking out his anger and sadness and hopelessness by fighting in the rumble, his school grades drop rapidly as he loses interest in school and he begins to fight with Darry a lot more. One evening while Ponyboy is in his bedroom looking for something to read, he notices the copy of “Gone With The Wind” that he and Johnny read in Windrixville. To his surprise enclosed is a …show more content…
Throughout the novel we see the Greasers and the Soc in constant conflict, fighting and rumbling for gang dominance. Ponyboy is greatly affected by this and is already questioning the point of violence. Close to the end of the text the Greasers and the Socs plan a rumble to occur one night. Before the fight, Ponyboy meets Randy Anderson (a Soc) at the Tasty Freeze Diner where they have a conversation. Ponyboy realises that Randy is, “not going to show at the rumble” and that he is, “sick of rumbles because they don't do any good.” This comes to a shock to Pony and at this moment he realises that violence really isn't necessary and it does no