Viking Press published S.E Hinton’s The Outsiders in 1967. Hinton’s novel is described as coming-ofage-themed. He began writing the novel when he was 15 years old and had it published by 18. Susan Eloise Hinton is the author. It is described by Hinton as a “place where nothing happens”, which she describes roughly. Hinton knew that her publishers suggested to her that she create a genderless username for her readers by inputting her name as S.E Hinton (S.E Hinton). The publishers were concerned that her novel about violence, prejudice and discrimination would be rejected by readers if she was not a woman. It is important to understand that being a woman writer does not guarantee you can sell your book. This is because violence in the novel exposes the context of the 1960s and what societal norms were in place.
The Outsiders, a novel about Ponyboy Curtis (14 years old) is the inspiration for The Outsiders. It follows his struggle to survive within society for two weeks. Ponyboy believes that everyone is outsiders. Ponyboy walks home to meet a group called the Socs. The Socs stand for Socials. Men from the lower-class of town are called The Greasers. Pony is attacked and beaten by this Socs group, before some members of his gang arrive and fight the Socs. Organized gangs do not exist. The war is between classes. This events sets the tone and shows how the audience will view the Socs/ Greasers relationship. The setting is described in Chapter 4. Hinton uses descriptive language to create the setting. The fountain was humming, though the pool was empty by now. The park was made dark and shadowy by the tall elms. Ponyboy and Johnny suggest that they go here to cool down before heading home. Ponyboy feels the lowest point and thinks “things gotta improve, they can’t get any worse”. Hinton also employs strong colour use. To depict the feelings of Johnny and his experiences, “White As a Ghost” is used. The combination of white and other colours is called “White as a Ghost”. This colour will not be associated with the Greasers, the Socs or the Greasers. The feeling of fear is universal and readers can easily identify similarities between the two gangs. The Ponyboy voice develops with each page. Once feeling lost and confused, Ponyboy was left behind by his brother. Now he understands there is more to life that being a greaser. He has the potential and ability to make a career of it.
The classic novel The Outsiders has been enjoyed by many young adults. The story is fictional and portrays teens in a different way than the norm. It seems to be the complete opposite of what teenagers are portrayed as. The Outsiders is a book that I found it difficult to relate to, even though it is labelled “young adult”. It is still a popular choice for young adults, even though it was published fifty years ago. Hinton’s work has been praised by many critics throughout the years. Some even said that it “revolutionized the genre” and was “easily relatable-a book that resonates for all”.
The 1960s-era language used in the novel is evidence of this. This is illustrated by the use of discourse like “rumbles” rather than fights, and the gangs that are linked to artists such as The Beatles. The language used in this novel is a clear indication that the story was set in 1960s. Examples include discourse such “rumbles” as an alternative to fighting and gangs like The Beatles. Ponyboy is assuming that Johnny will get the blame in chapter 4. Although the killing took place in self-defence Ponyboy, Johnny and others did not have to flee. As I was reading this scene, I noticed how vast the differences were between The Greasers & The Socs. This chapter reveals that the differences between these two gangs are not just about economic status but also a larger social injustice.
Hinton was a master at demonstrating the importance and long-term impact of education. It is still very relatable today to the use of important themes such as action, consequence, economic-based prejudice, violence, and the importance friendship. Ponyboy Curtis was able to be understood and sympathized with through technique like the voice, description, language, and style of the character.
