The book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a fantastic book. This blog post will be about the second half of the book and how Ponyboy changed and how it shaped him. In the first half of the book, Hinton talked about his struggles and how it effected him and changed him. He gone through changes through his experiences and through determination to achieve a goal. He never gave up on his goal and always had confidence in what he was trying to achieve. Even though his gang and his brothers influenced him in many bad ways, he still found the light in the end. He found the correct path and shined through the darkness.
I think Ponyboy changed mainly in two ways. He changed from "false" to "correct" view and the other big change was a greater sense of identity. He wanted to find who he was as a person and what his true identity was. He tried to do this through his actions but was still not really secure. One example is how he saved kids from a burning building. This shows that he was nice and not selfish. He didn't want to copy others, he wanted to develop his own personality and identity. With his experience throughout the book, he finally found out who he was as a person and who he wanted to be. In the beginning, he wasn't sure about his identity but during the end, he had 100% contorl of his destiny and found out his true identtity. I think Ponyboy changed from "false" to "correct" view because in the beginning, he had a false and bad influence by his brothers which changed what he wanted to become. They cursed, killed, and did drugs. But during the end, he changed and decided that he didn't want to be influenced by his brothers anymore which gave him the correct view. Through experience and dramatic incidents, Ponyboy changed.
After Ponyboy changed, he had many responsibilities and different tasks which kept his life busy. When the book ended, Ponyboy was still a child. Although he was still a child. I thought he was becoming an adult and changing. He decided to help others through his experience in the gang and decided to write a story about his experience. Ponyboy didn't really get privileges but he did have more responsibilities. His brother expects him to do well in school and not get into any more gang fights. Ponyboy wanted others to experience what he had gone through and prevent it from happening from others by writing his story and his point of view. I think that this shows Ponyboy's true identity and how nice he really was. He did what he wanted to do and not copy what others were doing. He hated the Socs but was humble with them in the end and he really described how he felt about their gang. He realized that you could achieve anything you wanted as long as you put your mind to it and have confidence in yourself.
I think the author was trying to say that childhood is a stage where you're not really mature yet and you tend to do things because other people do it. I think she was trying to say that as you move along, you will realize your own identity and follow your own path. I also think that she was trying to say that in childhood, kids make mistakes and it's okay as long as you change your mistakes through your childhood. I also think that it's okay to make mistakes as long as you realize your mistakes and correct them. She was also trying to say that adulthood is a stage where you have to take responsibility for actions you have done and take responsibility in everything you do. If you make a mistake, it is hard for someone to forgive you. It's not like you're three or four and you have an excuse to make mistakes. It is also hard to correct your mistake in adulthood since there are many things going on in your life and are causing you to think everyday.
In conclusion, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a fabulous book and tells a great story about a young boy's struggles and his journey to find his identity. He changes and shines through the darkness even though he is influenced in many bad ways by his gang and brothers. He is also teased because of how he looks and his background. This book has many great details that help tell the story. I really loved the end because it was the book inside the book. In the end, Ponyboy wrote his story exactly as how the story started which is very unique. After all, S.E. Hinton wrote this story based off of real life experiences. The ending showed how Ponyboy wanted to help others and how he wanted to change the way people thought about others. It was well plotted and I really enjoyed it. This would be a book that I would recommend to others and to my friends, especially friends that are struggling with identity problems.
Showing posts with label identity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label identity. Show all posts
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Identity Hidden in the Shadows
The book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a book about a young boy's struggle. He encounters many problems throughout his childhood. Ponyboy, the young boy is part of a gang called the greasers. This gang is his family and means a lot to him. Since his parents died, he can only rely on others and himself to live. Death at a young age is already a problem. The problems he faces throughout the book is constantly changing him and makes him realize what's right for him. There are many things that Ponyboy wants to happen but he must overcome obstacles in order for them to happen. Many things shape this book and make it a fantastic coming of age experience for young readers like me.
Ponyboy is encountering several problems throughout the first half of the book. One major external problem he is having is the feud between their gang and the Socs, a rich western gang that likes to bully greasers because they aren't as rich. Ponyboy almost got killed by the Socs one time walking alone on the streets. The Socs is a life threatening problem for Ponyboy and his gang. Another external problem is that Ponyboy got slapped by his brother Darry. Although Ponyboy doesn't really like Darry and thinks he doesn't care for him, but the slap that Ponyboy got was because Darry was worried about where he was. The most important external conflict is that Ponyboy was involved in killing a Soc called Bob. Johnny, a young greaser killed him to save Ponyboy, now they are both involved and could make the Socs take revenge. They are not only facing gang problems but they are facing outside problems too which makes their life so much more complicated.
Throughout this book, I think the main internal problem that Ponyboy is facing is trying to find who he is as a person and what his identity is. The reason he can't find it is because he relies too much on his brothers and his gang. I think that Ponyboy is unsecured because he is not sure what he wants his life to be like . He doesn't want to be like his gang because they are too violent and always causing trouble and doing illegal things. He also doesn't want to show off his true emotions because he is afraid that he won't be liked by his gang anymore. I think he wants to be different from the gang and wants to become someone nice. One example of Ponyboy starting to change was when he was at the movies. Two-bit, a gang member was talking trash to a girl that was a Soc. Ponyboy didn't join in and talk trash, he kindly spoke and even apologized. Ponyboy is slowly finding his identity through his experiences in life. His childhood is like a journey to find out what he wants to be when he is older.
Ponyboy's gang throughout the book influences him a lot which causes him to be unsecured. His gang is constantly around him and makes a lot of decisions that also influences Ponyboy. One example is smoking, most of Ponyboy's brothers smoke which causes Ponyboy to smoke also. Smoking at a young age is certainly not healthy and could cause harm to his body. His brothers causes bad influences for him. I'm surprised that Ponyboy isn't exactly like his gang and still has a good side. The greasers are also quite violent as most of them carry switchblades to protect themselves. Some of them also jump other kids for their money and their belongings. They influence Ponyboy in so many bad ways that he can't really have a chance to show his true identity. I think that Ponyboy wants to be a brave, nice, and normal person in life. Because he is a greaser, many people think of him differently but I think that he will try to achieve his goal.
This book's setting makes it incredibly realistic.The story takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Although the book doesn't talk about the setting, the author states the setting in the back of the book. It also takes place in the mid 1960's which makes it realistic. The setting creates many realistic aspects such as gangs. People were poor in the old times and the rich started taking advantage of the poor which caused gangs. The setting also affects their personality and how they act and how they speak. The setting shows differences in the poor gang and the rich gang and how they live and act.
In conclusion, this book is a fantastic coming of age book for young readers and really gives us an image in our head. This book has many realistic problems for a young teen and shows how a character is struggling throughout their childhood. The author creates many things that causes us to think deeply and how the characters are feeling. This is a fantastic book about a young boy trying to find his identity regardless what others think about him.
Ponyboy is encountering several problems throughout the first half of the book. One major external problem he is having is the feud between their gang and the Socs, a rich western gang that likes to bully greasers because they aren't as rich. Ponyboy almost got killed by the Socs one time walking alone on the streets. The Socs is a life threatening problem for Ponyboy and his gang. Another external problem is that Ponyboy got slapped by his brother Darry. Although Ponyboy doesn't really like Darry and thinks he doesn't care for him, but the slap that Ponyboy got was because Darry was worried about where he was. The most important external conflict is that Ponyboy was involved in killing a Soc called Bob. Johnny, a young greaser killed him to save Ponyboy, now they are both involved and could make the Socs take revenge. They are not only facing gang problems but they are facing outside problems too which makes their life so much more complicated.
Throughout this book, I think the main internal problem that Ponyboy is facing is trying to find who he is as a person and what his identity is. The reason he can't find it is because he relies too much on his brothers and his gang. I think that Ponyboy is unsecured because he is not sure what he wants his life to be like . He doesn't want to be like his gang because they are too violent and always causing trouble and doing illegal things. He also doesn't want to show off his true emotions because he is afraid that he won't be liked by his gang anymore. I think he wants to be different from the gang and wants to become someone nice. One example of Ponyboy starting to change was when he was at the movies. Two-bit, a gang member was talking trash to a girl that was a Soc. Ponyboy didn't join in and talk trash, he kindly spoke and even apologized. Ponyboy is slowly finding his identity through his experiences in life. His childhood is like a journey to find out what he wants to be when he is older.
Ponyboy's gang throughout the book influences him a lot which causes him to be unsecured. His gang is constantly around him and makes a lot of decisions that also influences Ponyboy. One example is smoking, most of Ponyboy's brothers smoke which causes Ponyboy to smoke also. Smoking at a young age is certainly not healthy and could cause harm to his body. His brothers causes bad influences for him. I'm surprised that Ponyboy isn't exactly like his gang and still has a good side. The greasers are also quite violent as most of them carry switchblades to protect themselves. Some of them also jump other kids for their money and their belongings. They influence Ponyboy in so many bad ways that he can't really have a chance to show his true identity. I think that Ponyboy wants to be a brave, nice, and normal person in life. Because he is a greaser, many people think of him differently but I think that he will try to achieve his goal.
This book's setting makes it incredibly realistic.The story takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Although the book doesn't talk about the setting, the author states the setting in the back of the book. It also takes place in the mid 1960's which makes it realistic. The setting creates many realistic aspects such as gangs. People were poor in the old times and the rich started taking advantage of the poor which caused gangs. The setting also affects their personality and how they act and how they speak. The setting shows differences in the poor gang and the rich gang and how they live and act.
In conclusion, this book is a fantastic coming of age book for young readers and really gives us an image in our head. This book has many realistic problems for a young teen and shows how a character is struggling throughout their childhood. The author creates many things that causes us to think deeply and how the characters are feeling. This is a fantastic book about a young boy trying to find his identity regardless what others think about him.
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