Introduction
The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, is a novel about the struggles of two gangs in a small town and the hardships faced by their members. Through the characters’ experiences, the novel highlights the issues of gang violence, classism, and the idea of teenage identity. Therefore, this case study will first provide a brief overview of the novel, followed by an analysis of the gang ‘case’ and its importance to teens. It will then address two conspiracy theories and their application in analyzing the novel to explore potential solutions for transformation.
Analysis and Evaluation of the Novel The Outsiders
The Outsiders novel by S.E. follows the story of two gangs, the Greasers and the Socs (short for Socials), and their respective members’ experiences with each other and their families. The Greasers are from the poorer side of town, while the Socs are from the wealthier side. Both groups struggle to fit in and define their identities in a world of conflicting expectations and values. According to Wistisen, the novel explores class struggle, loyalty, and identity through their interactions (200). The novel also follows the story of Ponyboy, a Greaser, and his struggle with his identity as a teenager and his relationship with his brothers. Through Ponyboy’s experiences, the novel highlights the importance of brotherhood and friendship and the need for belonging.
The gang culture in The Outsiders is an important topic for teens, as it illustrates the power of peer pressure and the lengths young people will go to fit in. The novel demonstrates how belonging to a gang can give members a sense of belonging and identity, along with demonstrating the dangerous consequences of gang involvement, such as violence and criminal activity (Wistisen 202). It also shows how gangs can provide comfort and support, giving members a place to turn when they feel overwhelmed or alone. The gang culture of The Outsiders is significant to teens, as it can help them understand the power of peer pressure and the consequences of gang involvement.
Moreover, in The Outsiders, Ponyboy reflects on the importance of gang culture to him and his friends. He says, “We were all we had. We lived by a code nobody else understood. We’d die for each other. That was the thing about greasers….” (Hinton 53). This quote illustrates the importance of gang culture to the characters in The Outsiders and how it gives them a sense of belonging and identity. It also shows how the gang provides them with an outlet for their frustrations, a place to turn when they feel overwhelmed, and a sense of safety and support.
The causes behind the gang culture in The Outsiders are the socioeconomic disparities between the Greasers and the Socs. The Greasers come from a poorer, less privileged background and feel excluded from the richer, higher-class Socs (Wistisen 210). That creates a sense of resentment and marginalization that leads the Greasers to form a gang to gain a sense of power and control. On the other hand, the Socs have a sense of entitlement and privilege, which leads them to bully and oppress the Greasers.
In addition, those socioeconomic disparities lead to a culture of violence and conflict between the two groups. In the novel, Ponyboy explains the differences between the two gangs, saying, “Socs have money, a good reputation, and all the privileges. Greasers have none of those things and have to scrabble for what they get” (Hinton 4). That demonstrates the sense of powerlessness and marginalization that the Greasers feel in comparison to the Socs and drives them to form a gang. Dally says, “We’re the poor kids on the East Side. We got to stick together” (Hinton 107). That shows how the Greasers band together to gain a sense of power and control in a society that has denied them of it.
Furthermore, the ‘case’ of the Greasers and Socs is important to teens because it brings to light the real-life issues of gang violence and classism. According to Sun, the novel shows the consequences of gang violence, including death and injury, and the importance of understanding the root causes of gang violence (14). The novel also illustrates the extreme class differences between the groups and the struggles that each group faces. Through the characters’ experiences, the novel emphasizes the importance of brotherhood and friendship and how a sense of belonging can help teens cope with the difficulties of growing up.
Possible changes include decreasing economic and social disparities between the two groups, increasing education and employment opportunities for the Greasers, and encouraging dialogue between the two groups. Decreasing economic and social disparities would enable the Greasers to access the same resources and opportunities as the Socs and would help reduce resentment and marginalization (Sun 15). Improving education and employment opportunities would provide the Greasers with alternative options to gang involvement while encouraging communication between the two groups would help to bridge the social and economic divide between them.
Two conspiracy theories that can be used to analyze this case study and provide a critical response to it are the ‘Gangstalking’ and the ‘New World Order’ theories. According to Pierre, the Gangstalking theory proposes that gangs are part of an organized effort to oppress certain groups of people and that a larger, more powerful organization targets the Greasers in The Outsiders (44). The New World Order theory proposes that the Greasers’ struggle symbolizes a larger struggle between the powerful and the marginalized (Pierre 44). Both theories suggest that the Greasers’ situation is part of a more extensive, more complex system of oppression and that the only way to achieve change is to address the underlying causes of the socioeconomic disparities between the two groups.
However, in response to these theories, it is important to consider the actual context of The Outsiders. The Outsiders is a novel, not a documentary; as such, it interprets the Greasers’ situation that may be inaccurately or oversimplified. Furthermore, while the theories suggest that a powerful organization oppresses the Greasers, there is no evidence in the novel that this is the case. The Greasers’ state may be the result of their own choices and the consequences of those choices rather than the result of an organized effort to oppress them (Wistisen 214). Ultimately, the theories provide an interesting perspective on the Greasers’ circumstances, but one should consider the actual context of The Outsiders before drawing any conclusions.
Conclusion
The Outsiders is a novel that sheds light on the real-life issues of gang violence and classism. By portraying the characters’ experiences, the novel highlights the significance of brotherhood and friendship, demonstrating how a sense of belonging supports teenagers in navigating the challenges of adolescence. Two conspiracy theories that can be used to analyze the novel are the ‘Gangstalking’ and the ‘New World Order’ theories. Applying these theories to the novel allows for an analysis that identifies possible solutions for change, including addressing the underlying causes of gang violence.
Works Cited
Hinton, Susan E. The Outsiders 50th Anniversary Edition. Penguin, 2016.
Pierre, Joseph M. “Conspiracy theory or delusion? 3 questions to tell them apart.” Current Psychiatry 20.9 (2021): 44-46.
Sun, Xiaomei. “Teaching young adult literature in secondary L2 classrooms: a case study of The Outsiders reading programme.” The Language Learning Journal (2022): 1-22. Web.
Wistisen, Lydia. “Too Much Feeling: SE Hinton’s The Outsiders (1967), Conflicting Emotions, Identity, and Socialization.” Children’s Literature in Education 52 (2021): 200-216. Web.
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