Chapter 9 Summary
Ponyboy sits down to dinner with Darry and Soda, but he has trouble eating because he does not feel well. He secretly swallows five aspirin, hoping they will suppress his headache so he can fight. The brothers shower and dress up as they always do before a rumble so they can show the Socs they are not just trash.
Darry suggests that Ponyboy should not be in the fight, and Ponyboy protests. Unlike his brothers, he does not like fighting, but he feels he has to pitch in for his side. Darry admits that the greaser side needs every fighter it can get now that Johnny and Dallas are in the hospital and a few other boys are in jail. Reluctantly, Darry says Ponyboy can participate.
As the time for the rumble approaches, the boys grow more and more antsy. To rev themselves up for the fight, they take flying leaps off the porch and chant proudly about being greasers and juvenile delinquents. Ponyboy asks them all why they like to fight, and each boy has a reason. Only Ponyboy is unsure why he fights.
As Ponyboy looks over the greasers who show up for the fight, he realizes that many of them enjoy being hoods. He looks at Darry and realizes that this is not true of his big brother. As Darry gets older, he will stop being a hood and start being something else. Ponyboy resolves to be like Darry, but he worries that he and Darry might fail to rise above their surroundings.
The Socs arrive on time in their fancy cars, looking classy and well-dressed as always. The boys from both sides line up facing each other. Everyone stands uncertainly for a moment, unsure how to start. Then Darry steps forward and announces he will take on the Socs’ best fighter.
At first, Ponyboy thinks none of the Socs will consent to face Darry. Then Paul Holden, who played football with Darry in high school, steps up. Paul and Darry used to be friends, but now Paul seems to look at Darry with contempt. Ponyboy is upset by this and nervous for his brother. Darry and Paul begin circling each other, and everyone else waits, tense and silent. The rumble begins when the first punch is thrown. Someone shouts, and Darry turns to see Dallas running toward them. In the moment Darry is not looking, Paul makes his first punch.
The smallest Soc is bigger than Ponyboy, but Ponyboy takes him on anyway. Dallas, who has joined the fight, explains that he broke out of the hospital with Two-Bit’s switchblade. Ponyboy cannot answer because he is being beaten badly. Darry grabs Ponyboy’s attacker and throws him out of the way, and Ponyboy goes to help Dallas. Ponyboy fights hard, but he is kicked in the head and falls, stunned, to the ground. Nevertheless, his side prevails, and the Socs run away. The greasers are left battered and bleeding but jubilant.
Dallas does not join the celebration. Instead, he grabs Ponyboy and takes him to the hospital. Johnny is dying. When the boys find a doctor, Dallas pulls his switchblade and demands to see their friend. The doctor does not look scared. “You can see him, but it’s because you’re his friends, not because of that knife,” the doctor says. Dallas pockets the knife, and the boys go into Johnny’s room.
Johnny does not seem to care that the greasers won the big rumble, but he practically glows when Dallas says all the guys are proud of Johnny. Turning to Ponyboy, Johnny says, “Stay gold.” Ponyboy does not know what Johnny means, but Johnny dies before he can ask. Dallas is devastated. He throws himself against a wall and runs away.
Expert Q&A
Where in The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is the quote about people's perception of the Socs and the hoods located?
The quote about people's perception of the Socs and the hoods in "The Outsiders" by S. E. Hinton is located in Chapter 9. In the novel, Ponyboy reflects on the unjust societal judgement based on looks, as he discovers the hidden kindness in the Greasers and the unexpected cruelty in the Socs. This revelation is a significant part of his identity formation as a Greaser. The specific quote can be found on page 120 of the GoogleDocs version and on page 141 of the SPEAK Penguin Group edition.
What advice does Dally give Ponyboy en route to the hospital?
Dally advises Ponyboy to become tough and callous to avoid getting hurt. He believes that if Johnny had been "smart" like him, he would not have run into the church and gotten injured. Dally suggests that caring for others only leads to trouble and emotional pain, and it is better to look out for oneself.
Why are the greasers and Socs fighting in a vacant lot in The Outsiders?
The greasers and Socs fight in a vacant lot as payback for Bob's death and Johnny's injuries. The rumble is a result of ongoing class conflicts and serves as a way for both gangs to seek revenge—Socs for Bob's death, and greasers for Johnny's suffering. The vacant lot, located in greaser territory, is chosen to avoid police intervention and for convenience.
What are the rules of the rumble in The Outsiders (pages 140–142)?
The rules of the rumble are no weapons—only fists—and the first to run loses. This concession to the Greasers is unusual for the Socs, who typically use weapons in fights. The Greasers, who view themselves as more honorable, adhere to these rules despite other gangs using weapons. Additionally, both sides need roughly equal numbers, though this rule is not strictly followed.
What impact does Dally's late arrival have on the rumble in The Outsiders?
Dally's late arrival at the rumble has a significant impact. Although it costs Darry a punch to the face, Dally's presence boosts the greasers' morale and adds an extra fighter, nearly balancing the numbers against the Socs. His arrival clears Ponyboy's mind, motivating him to engage in the fight. Dally's support is crucial, as he helps Ponyboy during the rumble, providing both physical aid and moral support.
In The Outsiders, what excuse did Dally give when stopped by the police?
When stopped by the police, Dally told the officer that Ponyboy had fallen off a motorcycle and needed to be taken to the hospital. To make the excuse believable, Ponyboy acted sick by leaning against the window and groaning. The officer, convinced by Dally's story, offered them an escort, allowing them to reach the hospital quickly to see Johnny.
In The Outsiders, why are Sodapop and Two-Bit jailed after learning acrobatics from Darry?
Sodapop and Two-Bit are jailed for "disturbing the public" after performing acrobatics, such as flips and walking on their hands, in a downtown area. Darry taught them these skills after taking an acrobatics course, believing they might be useful in fights. Their behavior, typical for the rowdy Greasers, contributed to their arrest as public nuisances due to the gang's already poor reputation in the community.
Why does Ponyboy, in The Outsiders, take five aspirins in Chapter 9 instead of his usual four?
Darry had cooked dinner: baked chicken and potatoes and corn—two chickens because all three of us eat like horses. Especially Darry. But although I love baked chicken, I could hardly swallow any. I swallowed five aspirins, though, when Darry and Soda weren't looking. I do that all the time because I can't sleep very well at night. Darry thinks I take just one, but I usually take four. I figured five would keep me going through the rumble and maybe get rid of my headache.
Ponyboy takes five aspirins instead of his usual four in Chapter 9 because he is exhausted and stressed, dealing with a severe headache before the rumble. He hopes the extra aspirin will help alleviate his headache and allow him to participate in the rumble despite his exhaustion. Additionally, Ponyboy might be using aspirin as a placebo to cope with anxiety, influenced by his friends' habits of using substances to self-medicate.
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