The Outsiders Conflict Essay

In literature, there are four types of major conflicts, and in many cases these conflicts are beyond the characters control. These four types of conflicts are man versus another man, for example in The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, a major man versus man conflict are the rival gangs, the Greasers and the Socs. Another conflict is man versus nature, where a person is in trouble with a force of nature, like a tornado, or in this case a fire. Man versus society is where a character has conflicts with society’s views on “outsiders” and people who do not fit in. An man versus self, is where a character struggles against him or herself, with unwanted feelings. The main types of conflict that can be found in this book are, man versus man, man versus
Ponyboy and his gang are pitted against the hateful, judging, and cruel middle class and higher. They are discriminated against because of their lack of money, and are constantly being cornered and beat up. After being cornered by the Socs, Ponyboy was asked, “You guys know what Greasers are? White trash with long greasy hair,” to which Ponyboy replies “You know what a Soc is? White trash with mustangs and madras,” this shows that the Greasers are seen as nothing more than trouble makers with slicked back hair, compared to the rich Socs (Hinton (chapter 4, paragraph 16). Once again, the Socs are “the jet set, the West-side rich kids,” and that seems like the only thing that separates the Greasers and the Socs, but the these two gangs, that is the only thing that matters (Hinton 2). In a way, this conflict was beyond the characters control. They cannot control how they are treated by others and the lives they were born into. However, Ponyboy, did in a way overcome this obstacle by becoming friends with a Soc named Cherry with whom Ponyboy has a lot in common. Although their slight friendship creates a larger conflict, it changes Ponyboy’s assumption that all Socs are the