Title: Outsiders

Author: S.E Hinton

Text Type: Novel

The outsiders, a 1960s American novel. Two rival gangs: Socs and The Greasers on the opposite sides of town Tusla, Oaklhoma . The gangs Comprise of kids and teenagers, they are grouped either a Greaser or Soc depending on their socioeconomic status and area of town they live. Socs are high class and wealthy. Greasers are low class and dress ruffer.

When I read this text, I felt angry. I felt this because of the social divide because of a vast difference in socioeconomic status. For example, how they dress, act, and live is dependent on their socioeconomic status (“Greaser” or “Socs”).

An interesting idea that this text made me think about, was the author seemed to be suggesting this type of social divide was common and normal. We see this in the text when the author said “life was one big joke to Two-Bit,”. When Bob begins the novel, the main point is about “Socs” -  that is, all things rich, sung, entitled, and different from Ponyboy and his Greaser friends. This shows us that Greasers have a strong idea of who and what they are - “a sense of hopelessness”.

Another interesting idea that’s in this text made me think about was a moment when Darry said “With your brain and grades you could get a scholarship,”. I felt this moment was the complete opposite of the rest of the novel overall. It made me think about what their society could look like if things changed for the better. I felt the author seemed to be suggesting it is possible for success, but many Greasers don’t believe they would be a success. I think this is great.

Overall this text projects a true picture of friendship in society. How people are labeled according to their sociometric statuses, creating social divide within communities. I think this novel is a realistic picture of life in Tulsa, Oklahoma to me, even though I have never been there.