Module 1: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Classics – The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

1.  Hinton, S.E.. The Outsiders. New York: Penguin Group US, 2012. Print.

2. Plot Summary. There are two types of people in the world, according to Ponyboy Curtis, who is the protagonist: greasers and socs (social elites). Greasers always have to watch their backs from the socs and roam the streets at night. Socs are society’s elite few that seem to have a genetic disposition to pick on the greasers, whether it be for a girl, territory, or just bragging rights. Constant street warfare is bound to ensue when these two groups clash. This is exactly what causes the tension in the novel. We find multiple people dead and the two sides will either find a way to make things right or seek revenge.

3. Critical Analysis. The Outsiders is S.E. Hinton’s first young adult novel which was published in 1967 and became an instant classic due to its coming of age tale and ability to convey a sociological struggle within adolescents. It has received awards such as, “A New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Book,” “ALA Best Book for Young Adults,” and “A Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book.” Reviews often focus on the tension and drama S.E. Hinton is able to project through her style of writing. The Chicago Tribune says, “Taut with tension, filled with drama” and Philadelphia Daily News calls it “[A] classic coming-of-age book.” When it comes to the story’s tension, I would have to agree that it will keep readers on their toes. Hinton is able to leave readers guessing about what will happen between the socs and greasers.

While reading reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, which are written by readers of all ages, I have come to notice that many mentioned how they could relate to each character and felt a connection to them. For example, from Goodreads, Brigid commented, “It’s really exciting, and the characters are all really believable. I like how the story was written by a young author who really knew about what she was writing about—she based it partly on the experiences of her friends.” So although this story was set in the 1960s, readers are still able to relate to the subject. Personally, I could relate to the characters because they weren’t perfect and had flaws just as every human being does. Even members of the socs, which are supposedly the social elite, had their own dilemmas as well. I find it more engrossing when an author can weave a story centered on real-life characters and conveys their internal and external struggles.

Reading the story, I did not expect there to be multiple deaths, especially in a grisly manner.  For example, “Dally didn’t die a hero. He died violent and young and desperate, just like we all knew he’d die someday (p. 154).” This statement is just a sample of how Hinton is able to create not just tension, but also a setting of violence and death. Readers will understand that socs and greasers do not take each other lightly and are not afraid to defend their territory.

A weakness to the story is that I found the names Dally and Darry to be very similar. At times, I found it difficult to distinguish who was who because their given names are Dallas and Darrel, but they go by their nicknames.  Another aspect of the story that struck me was how cruel the socs were. Hinton made it seem as if every nice car filled with a group of privileged youth were ready to jump out on a moment’s notice and attack a greaser to the brink of death. This happened a few times in the story and I was hoping for more of an explanation as to why the socs were so cruel to the greasers. Being disadvantaged is one thing, but to seek out greasers at night like a hawk looking for its next meal is another.  Perhaps it was simply because the socs were taught to hate greasers or maybe they were just bored.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and can see how it would strike a chord with young adults. It’s graphic, grisly, emotional, and the characters are flawed, but good-natured. It does, in some ways, glorify violence and gang mentality, but this offers a different insight of those looking for a family. A family perhaps without a mother and/or father, but a diverse group of people that band and protect each other.