Discussion Topic

The Socs' feelings after Bob's stabbing in The Outsiders

Summary:

After Bob's stabbing in The Outsiders, the Socs are shocked and angry. They feel a heightened sense of animosity towards the Greasers, which exacerbates the tension between the two groups. The incident deepens their desire for revenge and further polarizes the social divide.

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How might the Socs have felt after Bob's stabbing?

According to Cherry and Randy Adderson, Bob Sheldon was a good friend and was considered a leader among their group of Socs. Cherry told Ponyboy that there was something special about Bob that made him stand out from the crowd, and Randy said that Bob was the best buddy a guy could ever have. Needless to say, Bob Sheldon was a popular, respected individual that all the Socs looked up to. Given the Socs' natural contempt for the Greasers, the majority of the Socs would have felt sad and angry that Bob had died at the hands of a Greaser.Revenge would have been the first thing on their mind because the stabbing added fuel to the already overwhelming animosity the Socs felt towards the Greasers. Cherry is heartbroken that she lost her boyfriend, and Randy feels numb and helpless that he lost his best friend. The other members of...

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theSocs would most likely experience grief and anger when they find out that Bob was stabbed to death. 

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In The Outsiders, how did the Socs feel after Bob's stabbing?

The universal quality of The Outsiders really allows the reader to identify with the feelings of the boys as they face conflict and hardship.  Since the story is from the point of view of Ponyboy, most of the novel centers around the greasers and their struggles, but with that being said, the reader can still identify with the Socs as well. 

When Bob is killed in chapter four, Hinton does not show the Socs' reaction, but as the story progresses, chapter six reveals some of the aftermath of Bob's death.  Cherry Valance told Dally:

"She said she felt that the whole mess was her fault...and would testify that the Socs were drunk and looking for a fight" (86).

Cherry's statement reveals her feelings of guilt for what happened, and later Randy reveals that he too, feels "sick of all this.  Sick and tired" (116).  Cherry and Randy represent the minority of the Socs who feel regret and shame for what happened.  Most of the Socs desire revenge for Bob's death, as indicated by their planned rumble to distribute 'payback' to the Greasers.

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