The Outsiders, written by S.E Hinton, is about a boy called Ponyboy Curtis who as a character developed mentally and physically. The Story is about the conflict between two groups the Socs and the Greasers who at the beginning hated each other but because of events throughout the novel they learn that they are not that different. Ponyboy faced obstacles, at home with his brother Darry, the conflict between the Socs and the Greasers and his attitude towards life. From this Pony learns “Nothing gold can stay”.
When Pony’s parents died his older brother Darry, took over as guardian of both his brothers Pony and Sodapop. Pony has been unable to form a good relationship with Darry, as he thought that Darry did not love him and care for him. Pony always challenged that Darry was mean and always tough on him, telling people that “Darry did not love anything or anyone, except maybe his brother Soda”, however Pony’s opinion is changed when he sees Darry crying, when they are reunited after Pony went missing. Ponyboy then realizes that Darry was only picking on him and tough towards him because he loves him. Darry knows that Pony has the ability to go far in life. Darry does really love and care for his little brother and would do anything for him, and as a character Pony is able to realize that “Darry is a good guardian”. Pony learns that Darry is not as bad as he thought, does that go the same for the Socs.
Pony “hates the Socs as bitterly and contemptuously as Dally Winston hated”, but learns they are not all bad. Pony being a Greaser does not go hand and hand with the Socs and think they are a group of “cold-hearted” mean people with no emotion or feelings in them. However, when Ponyboy makes friends with Cherry Valance, who is a Soc, Pony realizes that all Socs are not that bad. Cherry convinces Pony that the Socs and the Greasers may not be that different that “it is rough all over”, with some Socs feeling what Pony felt, lost and needed somewhere to