Sodapop - the Outsiders

The Ousiders Essay - Sodapop Curtis In S.E Hinton's novel, The Outsiders, there are many themes represented in the book, but one of the main themes is social ostracism, or the conflict between the economic classes. There are two rival gangs within The Outsiders: the Socs and the Greasers. The Socs represent the upper class while the Greasers represent the lower class. The Socs, "jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next." The Greasers, who are on the low social economic side, "steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while." The conflict between the rich and the poor goes even further than economics and goes to values too. This is said through Cherry, herself a member of the Socs. "You greasers have a different set of values. You're more emotional. We're sophisticated—cool to the point of not feeling anything." As you can see, these two groups are divided by these differences. In this conflict of this gang, there is Sodapop Curtis, a greaser. Ponyboy’s happy-go-lucky, handsome "movie-star good looking" brother. Sodapop is 16 years old and the middle Curtis boy of the family. Ponyboy envies Sodapop’s good looks and charm. His best friend is Steve Randle, has been his best friend since grade school. Sodapop plans to marry Sandy, a greaser girl. His two brothers, Darry and Ponyboy Curtis, who are also greasers. They are on the lower end of economics and they have to work very hard for money to keep up a house and support Ponyboy through school (Darry and Soda both quit). Sodapop gave up his education to work at a DX gas station and uses the money he makes (though not much) to support the family. As Sodapop is a greaser, he is a part of the conflict of the gangs, getting into fights/rumbles at times. In S.E Hinton's novel, The Outsiders,