When it comes to gang rivalry, the word “family” doesn‘t usually come to mind, but S,E. Hinton’s The Outsiders brings up the crucial point of who really are your close ties. Between the Curtis Brothers to the Greaser and Soc families, their differentiated values are surprising. To begin, the Curtis Brothers are held together not only by their bloodline but by their dependence on each other’s shelter. They all have to work hard to support their bond or they might be separated “Darry didn’t deserve to work like an old man when he was only twenty.” Sodapop and Ponyboy may be put into a boy’s home, so in order to prevent that, Darry (and Soda) must work at young ages to try to survive and to put Ponyboy through life. Darry even had to quit college for his loved ones, though he could’ve continued and maybe become a Soc. Also, character is a major driving force in the whole family. “Darry did care about me.
He was trying too hard to make something of me. When he yelled ‘Pony, where have you been all this time?’ he meant ‘Pony, you‘ve scared me to death. Please be careful, because I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you. Because Darry cared, he tried to guide Ponyboy down the right path in life, Darry, who is a brother and almost a father to Pony, showed true compassion to the people closest to him. He demonstrated protection and security, provided for the gang through his job, and tried to give directions to Pony while it was still early. As for other Greasers, their lives were very different from each other. Johnny’s parents didn’t even care for him. “His father was always beating him up, and his mother ignored him.” The state of disconnection was so great that Johnny appreciated getting hit by his father because at least then he knew who he was.
In contrast, Two-Bit’s mother showed a greater deal of happiness. Two-Bit and his mother lived a more carefree and lighthearted life. “I liked Two-Bit‘s mother. She had the same good humor and easygoing ways that he did” (R114), Whether it was their living standards or not, Greasers had a different perspective on how to get by. They could either be depressed and sulk or they could be positive and happy This point becomes clearer when compared to the more privileged West-Side Socials, Socials, or Socs, are a separate case entirely, Their financial prosperity and higher social class makes them take things for granted and become irresponsible, Though it may seem like the good life, it left many with the sense of pointlessness. Like Johnny, Bob had parents who weren’t really there for him, “ ‘[Bob] kept trying to make someone say no” and they never didt’ ”. Johnny’s parents just ignored him, but Bob‘s were not there to guide him; they spoiled him with their ignorance.
Bob’s parents didn’t want to restrict their son, and in turn he did not pick up the moral of responsibility. Another problem is that Socs have no needs that weren’t already provided for, Since they didn’t need to work, they had to find other ways to pass time, which led to trouble and public disapprovalt “[Socs] get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next.” They caused mishaps, yet their actions were quickly forgiven, making the Socs lose sight of the value of their privileges All of this evidence portrays how the Soc parents’ endless freedom for their children is, in some ways, identical to Johnny‘s (a Greaser) parent‘s disconnection They gave no guidance to light the rightful path for their kids. But is a family just people who live in the same house as you? Ponyboy and his gang wasn‘t any less (and maybe even more) than an average family. “If it hadn‘t been for the gang, Johnny would never know what love and affection are.”
Johnny had found comfort in the shelter of his close friends, and that was more that what he could’ve said about his parents Socs, though, seemed strangely the opposite of “lower class” Greasers, “You Greasers have a different set of values You’re more emotional. We’re sophisticated- cool to the point of not feeling anything.” Due to their background of how they were raised, Socs didn’t have any warrn feelings. The meaning behind it all is: When you have everything, you don’t have anything When you don‘t value the things you have, do you really own them? So what is a family? Family members haven‘t been defined a family member is anyone who helps put an emphasis on the important things in life, or moreover, the importance of life Families are brought together through the mutual need for someone to be there, like a form of support. A family is love, protection, and guidance, The Outsiders expresses the powerful concept of family, showing the meaningful point of caring.
