Discussion Topic

The reasons why things are "rough all over" in The Outsiders

Summary:

In The Outsiders, the phrase "rough all over" signifies that both the Greasers and the Socs face difficulties, despite their socioeconomic differences. The Greasers struggle with poverty and violence, while the Socs, though wealthy, deal with emotional neglect and pressure to conform. This highlights that hardship is universal, transcending social and economic boundaries.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What makes things "rough all over" in chapter 7 of The Outsiders?

In Chapter 2 of The Outsiders, Cherry Valence tells Ponyboy that "things are rough all over." She tells him this shortly after he finishes telling her why Johnny acts so "hurt and scared." Cherry expresses her sympathy, but doesn't allow the story to make her think that the Greasers have it worse than the Socs. She tells Ponyboy that "things are rough all over." What's revealing about the exchange is that Ponyboy believes her. He doesn't have any evidence yet, but he believes her.  

Cherry no longer looked sick, only sad. "I'll bet you think the Socs have it made. The rich kids, the West-side Socs. I'll tell you something, Ponyboy, and it may come as a surprise. We have troubles you've never even heard of. You want to know something?" She looked me straight in the eye. "Things are rough all over."

"I believe you," I said. "We'd better get back out there with the popcorn or Two Bit'll think I ran off with his money."

Chapter 7 represents the calm before the rumble storm. Dally and Johnny are both in the hospital. Dally is going to be okay, but Johnny is not doing well. Toward the end of the chapter, Randy, a Soc, comes to talk to Ponyboy. Randy wants to understand why Pony and Johnny saved those kids. He can't understand why a Greaser would do such a thing. Pony tells him that it had nothing to do with being a Greaser. Randy then begins to explain to Ponyboy that he is having a hard time coming to terms with the death of Bob and the pointlessness of the gang war. He's sick of it and of the class distinctions that mean nothing anymore.  

"And tonight... people get hurt in rumbles, maybe killed. I'm sick of it because it doesn't do any good. You can't win, you know that, don't you?" And when I remained silent he went on: "You can't win, even if you whip us. You'll still be where you were beforeā€”at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn't do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn't prove a thing. We'll forget it if you win, or if you don't. Greasers will still be greasers and Socs will still be Socs.

By the time the conversation ends, Ponyboy has finally seen concrete evidence of how things are rough all over because he understands the futility of gang war and the Soc's grief over deaths they see. When another Greaser asks him about that Soc (Randy), Ponyboy responds by saying that it wasn't a Soc, just a guy because now Ponyboy sees through the class war and the war against privilege to the humanity of individuals, some with more, some with less.

"He ain't a Soc," I said, "he's just a guy. He just wanted to talk."

Last Updated on
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Why are things "rough all over" in the novel The Outsiders?

That line is spoken by Cherry in chapter 2.  Ponyboy Curtis has just narrated the past events about Johnny's beating and brush with death.  He told Cherry, so that she could understand why Johnny looks so hurt and scarred.  Cherry expresses her sympathy, but she does not cave and tell Pony that the Greasers have it way worse than the Socs.  She tells Pony that "things are rough all over."  Ponyboy, to his credit, believes her.  Eventually, the reader learns exactly what Cherry was talking about.  The Socs have it equally as rough as the Greasers.  It's just different.  The main problem with the Socs is that they are hollow and emotionless.  They rumble and fight just to feel something, anything.  At the crux of it is the fact that the Socs are every bit the rebellious teenagers that the Greasers are.  They are all trying to fit in some way and not disappoint each other or their families.  

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Last Updated on