“Things are rough all over”, think the greasers and Socs based on their situation. Mostly, the Greasers. The main character and narrator, Ponyboy thinks that the greasers have it rough. Because, they are poor. And based on Ponyboy’s conversation with cherry from the Socs, cherry said “we have troubles you’ve never even heard of “Which seems like the Socs have “problems” too. Based on Cherry’s talk with ponyboy about each others gang, the story starts to unfold and prove each others reasoning. This Fiction Novel is based on a most likely life as a gang ,based on the perspective of the protagonist ,Ponyboy
Curtis ,whom sees and thinks his life as a struggle to survive as he experiences rough times and sees how everybody else in the novel also struggle as much as him. In other words, ponyboy realized that he needed to survive, when he saw his acquaintances Dally and Johnny Die. Life has its good and bad things, which don’t stay for long. So, you have to overcome them. Although, it isn’t easy. Just like the the saying says “easier said, than done”. For instance, there are kids or teens under 18 that are in gangs like Ponyboy, that have to live through roughstuff.
Because,of their situation. For example, everybody as their reasons for joining a gang. Ponyboy thinks that his life is hopeless at first. But, then as soon as he sees Johnny and Dallas die, He realizes that there is still hope and that there is no need to look or stay behind. Ponyboy decided to focus on his studys. And studying will lead him to a better world or future. ln other words education is what leads to success. So,Ponyboy wants to be someone and be the leader and get out of his poorness and help his brothers and make the proud and take them out of the struggles they are in.
Besides, Ponyboy likes to read which is like people say “Today a leader, Tomorrow a eader”. Greasers have it tough and Socs have it tuff. Greasers are poor, Socs are rich. Greasers are trying to find a way out ,Socs are bullys. But, mainly Ponyboy met all these people in the story and saw what they thought and felt and that changed him. In page 43, Ponyboy says that “it ain’t fair that we have all the rough brakes! ” And he thought about,”Johnny’s father being drunk and his mother a selfish slob.. ” And then he talks about how Two- bits,Dallas, Steve, Sodapop and Darry have it rough and suffer and how the Socs bully them, Greasers.
So, this partially proves ponyboy’s reasoning. Greasers being poor affects them. In this world we need money and that’s why money is bad . But, in this case money is bad and it’s an obstacle for the Greasers. With this in mind, Darry is how he is, direct and demanding because of money. He has to take care of his brothers and works a lot which is exhausting. And that’s why he’s cold. So, Ponyboy thinks that Darry hates him. Because, of his actions. Darry is always yelling at him for every little thing he does “wrong”. And besides in page 50, it states that ,”Darry wheeled around and slapped me so hard that it knocked me against the door.
This shows how Ponyboy doesn’t just think of himself. But of his gang members too. in fear. For instance, Johnny regretted the fact that he killed Bob Sheldon, from the Socs. Besides, Ponyboy didn’t realize the problem, they got theirselves in, until Johnny said “Shut up about last night! How’d you like to live with that? “, in page 74. And because of that they have to hide inside the church, to not get caught by the cops. Aside from this,the quote stated in page 148, saying “Stay Gold, Ponyboy, Stay Gold.. “,In which Johnny said right before he died,relates to both Johnny and Ponyboy.
Because,Johnny and Ponyboy risked their lives to save kids, from a burning church. As stated in page 91, “ITIll get them don’t worry” and “I jerked loose and ran on. All I could think about was : we started it!. “. But,Also Ponyboy got a letter from Johnny after he died ,saying,”It’s worth it, it’s worth saving those The Greasers live kids. Their lives are worth more than mine , they have more to live for”and Johnny also mentioned “you’re gold when you’re a kid, like green. When you’re a kid everything’s new, dawn. lts just when you get used to everything that it’s day. Like the way you dig sunsets, pony.
Thats gold. Keep that way , it’s a good way to be. ” For this reason, it shows that both Johnny and Ponyboy are gold or that they still have a little spark of gold inside them,their hearts. Ponyboy couldn’t help it , being bullied and seen as the poor, which “don’t” have hope, as the lower social class. He was tired of it and so was everyone in the gang,greasers. Which made them live fear,despair and sadness.
But, Asa gang, as a family,they all felt the same thing, darkness. In page 176, Sodapop says “If we don’t have each other, we don’t have anything. lf we don’t have anything. you end up like Dallas. When you struggle to survive and don’t find the key to escape, you see darkness and loneliness and just see everything,pitch black. But, Johnny and Dallas’s death made Ponyboy realize that he can still reach out and find a solution to his problems which are fear and darkness, it’s like if a bird was trapped inside a cage. But, also a dark empty box , is to be open someday. Also, Ponyboy didn’t want to end up like that, dying with a cold and harsh ending. lts all to Mr. syme, Ponyboy’s English teacher. Mr. Syme asked Ponyboy to write a theme. In which Ponyboy decided to write about his life and became a riter.
But, Johnny’s letter also told him that,”You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want”. All this is showing that if you live near, deep in the shadows, there’s always a way out. Comfort, guidance and love. lts as if a mommy duck was teaching its baby to swim. So,basically , there are some mammals whom take care of their babys until they grow up. For starters, the Greasers did have somebody that took care of them. But, somehow they flew or disappeared or didn’t care about them, which seemed as if, somebody blew away a lightning candle. And disappeared like smoke.
And so it left them with anxious and cold hearted hearts. The only option they had was education. Although, they had other choices which was that either they kept on robbing, jumping or threatening people or they would keep on hiding in the darkness forever. Education is what leads to success. Thats in school where there are many resources such as dance,Art, drama and more. Also, there are teachers who can help you, they teach things that can help you in the near future. And it might also help you to grow up into who you want to be. Because, anybody who wants to change the world,can change it.
Ponyboy saw all of this and didn’t want to end up like Johnny and Dallas. So,Ponyboy decide to study to become a writer, as said in page 180,”I decided I could tell people ,Beginning with my English teacher . I wondered for a long time how to start a theme, How to start writing about something that was important to me. “And so I agree with his decision . Everybody needs a role model, somebody to be guide by, especially teenagers. Because, at this age, they can make the wrong choices. You know how it goes, kids these days. Besides, if you’re always prepared, you’ll never be scared.
