Character+Analysis+Essay+CC15

When S. E. Hinton wrote __The Outsiders__ I guarantee that she didn't know that this book would affect the lives of millions. Ponyboy Curtis, a fan favorite in the breathtaking novel __The Outsiders__, is growing up in the hood as a Greaser. He has to excel against ruthless criminals, death, harsh Socs, and ridiculous odds, to make something of his life. Through this journey Ponyboy's careless, smart, and relatable attitude sets him apart, and gives him a chance in the hopeless world we read about.

Ponyboy is careless. Throughout the book he puts himself in unfavorable situations, which he could have avoided by simply thinking before hand. In fact, he does so in the very first scene of the book, when he walk home alone from the movie theater. Pony's neighborhood is not a family friendly place, it is filled with gangs and thugs, likewise he ends up getting jumped by Socs. When asked by Steve, a family friend, why he was walking alone he responds, '"I was coming home from the movies. I didn't think....'" His older brother Darry is constantly telling him to use his head, and although Pony feels that Darry is being unfair and harsh; he doesn't understand that Darry is only looking out for him.

The reason that Darry is so hard on Pony is because he's smart. Pony has brains, and Darry believes that an academic scholarship could be Pony's way out of the hood and onto a better life. Even though Pony is smart he seems to be very modest, and displays modesty and smarts when saying, " ...I get put into A classes because I'm supposed to be smart...." His classes are often filled with Socs, and he might be the only Greaser in A classes in his gerade.

Through this story Pony is relatable. My grandpa is very close to me, and he often tells me stories about his life. He grew up the hoods of Brooklyn with two brothers. He grew up with many dangerous people, and against all odds made something of his life. His two brothers both became very successful people, and all three brothers had children. Unfortunately in his early fifties my grandpa's oldest brother passed away from a rare bone disease. Death was a part of life and killing was also a part of life back in early New York. When Johnny died it was a heart wrenching time in the story but what many people don't realize is that death was a frequent part of life in the hood. It happened to my grandpa and it has happened to many people worldwide. In my mind this is what made Pony a fan favorite, because he is so relatable.

After reading __The Outsiders__ I can completely understand what many children have to go through in every day life. Ponyboy has single handily been my favorite character throughout the book and I was sad to see him detach himself from his life due to the death of others. He is careless, smart, and relatable, and I feel that I have come to know him as a friend through the journey of reading __The Outsiders__. Over all Pony has overcome many challenges, and this stage of life is just a mere bump in the road. For all those people in real life that are in a similar situation, and don't know what to do, just understand that you do have a chance.