Transcript The Outsiders S.E. Hinton Symbolism 2 packet
The Outsiders S.E. Hinton
Symbolism 2 packet
About the book
“A heroic story of friendship and belonging. Ponyboy can count on his brothers and on his friends. He can always count on trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect – until the night someone takes things too far.”
Greasers
The switchblade represents strength and power. The Greasers, the lower class, felt safer when carrying this defense. It was their choice of weapon against harm that may come from the opposing social group, the Socs.
Socs
The blue Mustang represents the upper class Socs. It stands for money power and authority.
It was Bob’s rings, symbols of wealth, that were used to cut up Johnny’s face so badly the day he was left for dead.
The cigarette is a symbol of the lower class. Many of the Greasers started smoking at an early age. It made them feel older and helped them to fit into their group. Later it became a way of passing time and keeping calm.
The drive-in movie theatre was a place where the Greasers and the Socs shared the same turf. Both social groups enjoyed the theater together. It was a place where they could co-exist.
Sunsets
Cherry and Pony talked about the sunsets being the same on both sides of town. It is here that the two realize that they too, might be more alike than they had thought. Maybe this could be the end of their old way of thinking.
The horse represents innocence. Soda’s horse, Mickey Mouse, connects the boys to youth. Soda enjoyed the horse as a young boy. When the horse was sold, Soda was devastated. He shared a special bond with the horse that he could not again duplicate.
The Curtis boys also shared an extraordinary bond with their parents, unlike any of the other boys in their group. When their parents were killed, it truly was a life lost. A time that they could never get back. They now fight to stay together and form new bonds with each other that they didn’t know could exist. Chocolate cake was something the boys shared as breakfast. It symbolizes the bonds of friendship that they have formed. The hair cuts / styles could also represent the friendship between all the boys. The hair was something each greaser valued as much as each other. The Socs knew this, thus it was used as one of the first things the Socs threatened to cut.
A turning point
Dally’s invitation for Johnny and Ponyboy to join him for some food at the Dairy Queen was truly a turning point in the story. It was here that Johnny announced that he was turning himself in to the police.
It was also at the Dairy Queen where Ponyboy and Randy met up. Ponyboy realized that although they were very different, they were all just guys. Dairy Queen can symbolize coexistence and change.
The church was a safe haven for both Ponyboy and Johnny. It was a hideout for them as they were hiding from the crime that was committed. It was a place that allowed them to be themselves and reflect on their lives. Later, it was the burning church that allowed them to show their true colors and be thought of as something different than before – in a sense, the greasers were cleansed from the dirty gang they were viewed as before.
The burning of the church symbolized the end of innocent friendship between Johnny and Ponyboy. Their lives would forever be changed.
Most of the greasers felt the Curtis house was a safe haven. Many of the boys hung out here. Johnny and Dally turned to the Curtis boys instead of their own families in times of trouble.
Sunrise
The sunrise was the time period when Johnny and Ponyboy discussed the poem, “Nature’s First Green is Gold.” It is at this point that Johnny realized there was more to life and that he wanted to experience goodness. He wanted a new beginning.
Johnny and Dally both ended up in the hospital after their heroic rescues saving several students from the burning church. They ran in to the church despite the danger of the falling roof. As a result of their actions, they both died significant deaths. Both of their deaths occurred at night.