There's no artificial happy ending. Dally arrives at the church and tells them that they are safe because the police are looking for them in Texas. The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel by S.E. She has a bachelors degree in English and French from Sewanee: The University of the South and a masters degree in library and information science from Louisiana State University. And yes, she says, her friends were really called Greasers!, I get so many letters from people saying, You changed my life. That scares me. Johnny and Ponyboy hide out at the church. Walking from the East Side to the West side would take approximately 20 minutes, according to the text, and from that information readers can infer the size. Rumble Fish is a story of two brothers, Rusty-James and Motorcycle Boy, who are almost always there for each other. Hinton's The Outsiders is loosely based on real-life high school drama. The church in Windrixville is a sanctuary from the class divisions of the city. Already a member? The rivalry between two gangs, the poor Greasers and the rich Socs, only heats up when one gang member kills a member of the other. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. It was published when she turned 18. However, during her student teaching, she decided that she did not have the physical stamina to be a teacher. Johnny stabs Bob and kills him. After Johnny and Dally die, the passage of time is more vague. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. [25], In 2022, in Sperry, Oklahoma, the group Upward Sperry restored the now un-operational DX gas station seen in the film. I love getting letters saying, I never liked to read, but I read your book, and now Im going on to read other books. But the You changed my life stuff is scary, because who am I to change anybodys life? The Outsiders S. E. Hinton The story depicts the culture of what is obtainable in the era it was written. Suicide, a hot topic among teens, is not glossed over. Ponyboy starts to believe that he killed Bob and that Johnny is still alive. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Mr. Syme: Ponyboy's English teacher who assigns him a theme to write that becomes the story of the novel itself. The Outsiders was written by a teenager about teenagers. Greasers and Socs | What are the Gangs in The Outsiders? copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The social divide between the teenagers from the West Side and the teenagers from the East Side provides the crux of the story. . Ponyboy takes the reader through a two-week period that will shape the rest of his life. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton | Book Analysis S. E. Hinton and the Y.A. ), Hinton's commitment to portraying these lives in a realistic manner was evident. from your Reading List will also remove any Ponyboy often laments the fact that many of the Greasers will grow up to be "hoods" or criminals because they were born on "the wrong side of town." S.E. Cigarette smoking, like many serious issues, is treated in the novel as part of everyday life. But Im getting these letters that are, Just say you wrote it gay and Ill be satisfied. Well, your satisfaction isnt at the top of my priorities. Ponyboy gets home at two in the morning, enraging Darry until he suddenly slaps Ponyboy. [10], The 1983 film adaptation was directed by Francis Ford Coppola,[11] since its release it retains a fanbase. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Cherry's boyfriend who is stabbed and killed by Johnny. Afterward, Ponyboy, Johnny, and their wisecracking friend Two-Bit begin to walk Cherry and Marcia home, when they are stopped by Cherry's boyfriend Bob, who badly beat up Johnny a few months back.