The Outsiders Analysis

Ponyboy’s Change

            In the novel, The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton demonstrates that Ponyboy has changed from being irresponsible and childish to being mature and adult-like. With no change yet visible, Ponyboy is not very responsible and is frightened easily by Socs. His lack of responsibility is not at its best, especially when he hangs out with Dallas Winston. Ponyboy follows Dallas into the drive-in illegally which is why his responsibility is so bad. After leaving the drive-in, Socs pull-up close to them and Two-bit breaks a beer bottle which then hands to Ponyboy. He refuses to use the bottle and also exclaimed that he could not harm anyone. Later in the novel, Ponyboy himself begins to be dynamic character as he shows his adult-like actions. Ponyboy and Johnny escaped to Jay Mountain, which Ponyboy wouldn’t have done if he would be scared of doing so. He also saved children from a burning church in which only a brave person would do so. Ponyboy Curtis was involved in the Rumble against the Socs, so what all this meant that he was transitioning from a childish character to being a grown-up adult. Towards the end of the novel, Ponyboy changes his actions to being mature and responsible. At the hospital, when Soda and Darry came in, Ponyboy declares, “Darry…I’m sorry…” (98). This quote shows exactly how Ponyboy is sorry for his mistakes by pleading Darry to accept his apology. Change is found with Ponyboy especially in this quote, because of how he thinks before he pleads Darry. He believed that Darry didn’t like him and all the other problems they had together, but Ponyboy asks for Darry to accept his apology which fixes everything between them. This signifies that Ponyboy has changed from a childish person to being noble and responsible. The change Ponyboy has had from a teenager to being afraid to being able to take care of himself as an adult is just how S.E Hinton demonstrates it for him.