Isolation And Identity In The Outsiders By S. E. Hilton
Discontented with the books being published for adolescents, S.E. Hilton decided to write The Outsiders at the age of fifteen. It was first published in 1967, when Hilton was eighteen. The book is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In The Outsiders, S.E. Hilton develops and demonstrates the importance of the two themes ‘isolation’ and ‘identity’. She mentions isolation from different viewpoints, such as Ponyboy feeling isolated from the members of the gang and Cherri feeling different as an individual from the social group she was placed in. As for identity, Hilton symbolically reaves it with the use of the character’s appearance throughout the novel.
The Outsiders tells the story of the greasers and Socs (Socials), two loosely organised teen gangs in …show more content…
At the beginning of The Outsiders, Ponyboy feels isolated from the members of his gang, his brothers and even society. Ponyboy’s status as a greaser also makes him feel like an outsider as he does not have the same opportunities as the Socs. He may be a greaser but he doesn't feel like he can talk to the other greaser. People at school and even the teachers are scared of him, though he loves Sodapop, he knows that his brother doesn't really understand him. He feels alone and alienated in the world.
As Cherry (Soc girl) and Ponyboy talks, they immediately find that they have a lot in common, despite their different backgrounds. Hey both feel isolated from their social group, but Ponyboy refuses to believe this. But Cherry tells him ‘We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?’ … ‘Things are rough all over.’1 so even if the Socs seem like they have a great life, driving expensive cars and wearing branded clothes, being wealthy and popular has its ups and downs. Cherry continues to explain and says, ‘sometimes I'll catch myself talking to a girl friends, and realise I don't mean half of what I'm saying…’2 So even the Socs can feel isolated from their own social group due to all the pressure and expectations put on
The Outsiders tells the story of the greasers and Socs (Socials), two loosely organised teen gangs in …show more content…
At the beginning of The Outsiders, Ponyboy feels isolated from the members of his gang, his brothers and even society. Ponyboy’s status as a greaser also makes him feel like an outsider as he does not have the same opportunities as the Socs. He may be a greaser but he doesn't feel like he can talk to the other greaser. People at school and even the teachers are scared of him, though he loves Sodapop, he knows that his brother doesn't really understand him. He feels alone and alienated in the world.
As Cherry (Soc girl) and Ponyboy talks, they immediately find that they have a lot in common, despite their different backgrounds. Hey both feel isolated from their social group, but Ponyboy refuses to believe this. But Cherry tells him ‘We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?’ … ‘Things are rough all over.’1 so even if the Socs seem like they have a great life, driving expensive cars and wearing branded clothes, being wealthy and popular has its ups and downs. Cherry continues to explain and says, ‘sometimes I'll catch myself talking to a girl friends, and realise I don't mean half of what I'm saying…’2 So even the Socs can feel isolated from their own social group due to all the pressure and expectations put on