Choices And Decisions In Hinton's The Outsiders

“Stay Gold Ponyboy. Stay Gold.” is a quote that is in the book,”The Outsiders.” The book is shown in the view of a Greaser, the lower class people that are in the book. Ponyboy the main character has a friend that is dying, his name is Johnny Cade.

“Running away won 't help.” Johnny was right. Ponyboy had people that loved and cared for him... they just didn 't know how to show it!” In the book The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, proves that no matter what type of Social class you are; Greaser or Socs, family is most important and will help you get through the difficult parts in life.

He wanted everyone to know that there was still good in the world. In conclusion, the book The Outsiders explain a hidden message through Johnny that is said to only Ponyboy because he is innocent and unique. Johnny’s final wish before he passes away is that Ponyboy will stay gold because it was truly an important theme in S. E. Hinton’s story. Therefore, S. E. Hinton wanted Johnny’s powerful and final message to the readers of The Outsiders to be stay gold, hoping you will,

Someone once said, “ Life is all about making choices. Always do your best to make the right ones and always do your best to learn from the wrong ones”- Anonymous. Choices can always look instructive whether they are great or bad. Often, a string of good choices makes it easier to continue down the path, good consequences paving the way to more good choices. However, poor choices often have unlimited consequences.

Johnny shows Ponyboy that the world isn’t corrupt with mean people and that it is still full of good. Johnny stated in the note Ponyboy found in the book Gone With The Wild that it is was worth saving the kids even if it meant his life. He also stated that the poem in the book meant “He meant you’re gold when you’re a kid,like green… and don’t get bugged over being a greaser. You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There’s still lots of good in the world” (Hinton 178-9).

At the end of the novel, just before Johnny Cade dies he tells Ponyboy to “stay gold”, in saying this, he means that he should stay innocent and to not change who he is as a person. This is an important moment as, after Johnny dies, Ponyboy is very distraught and becomes more like the other Greasers. For example, he starts taking out his anger and sadness and hopelessness by fighting in the rumble, his school grades drop rapidly as he loses interest in school and he begins to fight with Darry a lot more. One evening while Ponyboy is in his bedroom looking for something to read, he notices the copy of “Gone With The Wind” that he and Johnny read in Windrixville. To his surprise enclosed is a

Ponyboy was genuinely upset about his hair, therefore he accepts his appearance as a greaser, as well. Ponyboy is negatively affected by the stereotype because he gets into multiple legal problems. He is forced to go to court because his friend, Johnny, killed a Soc named Bob. “Greasers can’t walk alone too much or they’ll get jumped, or someone come by and scream “Greaser!” at them, which doesn’t make you feel too hot, if you know what I mean” (2).

Johnny's relationship with Ponyboy is unique compared to the others, as Johnny is the only one closest to Ponyboy's age. Furthermore, It might be that this could have affected the actions of Johnny in this situation. To save another person, Ponyboy must have a special meaning to Johnny considering the experiences Johnny has had with Socs in the

He also says that he shouldn’t “…be so bugged over being a greaser. You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want.” Johnny is refereeing to how Ponyboy has a bright future and he can make with his life whatever he pleases. Pony finally understood what Johnny meant when he said, “stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold…”

This shows how he gained back his self-confidence and his ability to stand up for himself. Johnny finally found his acceptance from Dally when Dally said, “We’re all so proud of you” (148). When Dally said that Ponyboy noticed Johnny’s eyes glowing, “Dally was proud of him... That was all he ever wanted” (148). In the letter he wrote to Ponyboy, “It’s worth saving those kids...

In the novel, “The Outsiders” that was written by S.E Hinton, one of the characters within the book that has changed a lot was Ponyboy Curtis. Ponyboy Curtis’ change was a slow process, but a lot happened to him throughout the novel. He goes through many events at the start, middle and at the end of the novel too. At the start of the novel, Ponyboy was just an innocent and smart kid who lived with the gang known as, “The Greasers”, but by the end of the novel, Ponyboy is a different person compared to how he was in the beginning. The events that took place in the middle of the novel has some key events that make him change his personality and opinion on life, and that the reader learns that his personality and opinion changes because of the dramatic events he goes through like how Johnny Cade and Dallas Winston’s death.

(pg. 72). Even through this small comment, you can see Ponyboy’s concern for Johnny’s safety. He also shows his worriedness and protectiveness over Johnny on page 102, “Dally’ll be okay I thought. Dallas is always okay.

“People influence people, nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend”(Zuckerberg), this is true since people always want an opinion or something to help them make their decisions. In the novel The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, it goes over the life of a teenager and the pain of losing your loved ones and only having your friends to rely on. All decisions made in the story were crucial in every way since it went over real life situations. One character who’s decisions were influenced by the gang members called the Greasers and the environment he lived in was Johnny. Some decisions Johnny made that were influenced by the gang members were killing the Soc, wanting to turn himself in, and saving the children in the burning church.

Johnny last words to Ponyboy were “stay gold ponyboy stay gold”,I think Johnny meant that Ponyboy should stay like he is because he isn 't as violent as the other gang members. The text states “you ain’t like the rest of the gang. I mean i couldn 't tell Two Bit or Steve or even darry about the sunrise and clouds and stuff. Just you and Sodapop . And maybe Cherry Valance.

Johnny tells Ponyboy this because he does not want Ponyboy to end up like him when he dies young. Johnny wants Ponyboy to live a very long exciting life, but to stay out of trouble and to stop fighting with other classes because that is how he is just going to hurt