brothers should be worried about him and wondering if he is alive or dead. Secondly, when the boys see the church fire, they immediately realize that they caused it by leaving their cigarettes burning. They quickly decide that it's their responsibility to save the children inside.

The other primary theme is that of family togetherness. Although Johnny's family life is a bad one, he misses his greaser pals. Pony is also ready to return to ease his brothers' minds. The final scene of the chapter reunites the three Curtis brothers, and Pony realizes how deeply Darry is affected by his absence when he sees his tears. Pony realizes that he has been at fault for not recognizing this.

One of the themes of The Outsiders is the way in which gangs can give young men a sense of identity. As they are presented in the story, gangs can act as a kind of surrogate family, providing the solidarity, security, and mutual support normally associated with the family unit.

This is not to say that Hinton in any way condones gang life or the violence and hatred that it generates. However, she does invite us to try and understand just why it is that young men join gangs in the first place and what they hope to gain from the experience.

The character of Darry gives us a good example of someone for whom a street gang acts as a surrogate family. With both his parents dead, he has to look to his fellow Greasers for love and support. At the same time, Darry still has to hold his family together, but to a large extent, his personal identity is bound up with his membership of the Greasers.

Even so, he still recognizes that gang life isn't for everybody, which is why he wants his kid brother Ponyboy to succeed in life and to avail himself of the educational opportunities he missed out on due to their parents' untimely deaths. Darry recognizes that Ponyboy's identity isn't as closely bound up with the Greasers as his.

One of the most dominant themes in The Outsiders is that of class conflict.  The beginning of the novel strongly introduces this theme as a group of Socs, the West Side rich kids, jump and terrorize Ponyboy, a young boy from the East Side:

"Hey, grease," one said in an over-friendly voice.  "We're gonna do you a favor, greaser.  We're gonna cut all that long greasy hair off" (5).

The Socs target Ponyboy because of his social status as a greaser; the differences between the values and socio-economic status of the greasers and Socs in The Outsiders have turned the two groups against each other in animosity.  Each group targets the other as an enemy, and because of their different lifestyles and the resulting stereotypes, each side despises the other.  The greasers are seen as hoods and juvenile delinquents by the Socs while the greasers perceive the Socs as the group that "has all the breaks" with their "tuff" mustangs and madras shirts.  The class conflict between Socs and greasers drives the plotline of the novel, becoming one of the most important themes in The Outsiders.

There are many themes in S. E. Hinton’s book TheOutsiders, including friendship, individual identity, and loyalty. However, the main theme is arguably social conflict. The book revolves around the Greasers, a gang of poor boys from the East Side. They are viewed as delinquents because of their social status. The Greasers have frequent run-ins with the Socs, a gang of affluent boys from the West Side. While the Socs also participate in some delinquent activities, society does not view them as delinquents because of their social status.

The socioeconomic differences between the Greasers and the Socs cause a great deal of tension. For instance, recall how the Socs look down on the Greasers because they are poor. Meanwhile, the Greasers view the Socs as pretentious. The conflict takes up almost all of the boys’ time and energy. Recall how Johnny tells Ponyboy:

I gotta do something. It seems like there’s gotta be someplace without Greasers or Socs, with just people. Plain, ordinary people.

There is a whole world outside of the conflict between the Greasers and the Socs but the threats and violence and pressures to maintain their images have them all trapped. Hinton is trying to show the many real reasons why boys join gangs and how the social conflicts they become involved in impact their lives.

Ponyboy also learns that even though people might come from different backgrounds, everyone has problems. Recall how Cherry tells him:

I 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 ever even heard of. You want to know something … Things are rough all over.

Ponyboy learns that just because a person has money does not mean they do not have problems, and the Socs learn about the Greasers too. Recall the scene in which Ponyboy tells Randy that he is worried he might have to go into foster care. Randy is genuinely surprised and genuinely sorry. He had never really reflected on how complex their lives were because of their rough backgrounds. The book suggests that it is not right to make assumptions about people based on their social status, and it is not right to put others down because of the way they grew up.

The theme of loyalty is evidenced throughout the book. The first area that I see a deep loyalty theme is amongst Ponyboy's family. The three brothers are all that is left of the family, since their mom and dad were killed. They may fight from time to time, and Ponyboy may not always see how much his brothers love him, but they are extremely loyal to the family unit that is them. They do not want to be separated from one another.

Since Mom and Dad were killed in an auto wreck, the three of us only get to stay together only as long as we behave. So Soda and I stay out of trouble as much as we can . . . .

The Curtis brothers are also loyal to an extended family. That family is the Greasers. They do things like leave doors unlocked for one another in case one of them gets in trouble at home and needs to cool off or wait for the parent to cool off. They stick up for one another and make sure none of them goes into a fight alone.

You take up for your buddies no matter what they do. When you're in a gang, you stick up for the members.

This loyalty to fellow gang members is ultimately what causes Johnny to kill Bob.

I had to. They were drowning you Pony. They might have killed you. And they had a blade . . . . They were gonna beat me up.

The Socs have this same code of loyalty, but readers don't get as in depth of a view of it, because the book is told from a Greaser's perspective.

It's also interesting to observe loyalty in Cherry. She is obviously loyal to Bob, but she is also loyal to her idealism of non-violence. This means that she walks a fine line of supporting both the Socs and the Greasers, and Ponyboy calls her out on her mixed loyalties in chapter 8.

That's okay. . . . You're a traitor to your own kind and not loyal to us.

Although the greasers are "almost like hoods" who constantly run afoul of the law--stealing cars, holding up gas stations and fighting--they exhibit a loyalty toward one another that sets them apart from the Socs.

We're almost as close as brothers,

Pony tells the reader. Knowing it's unsafe to walk the streets alone with the Socs prowling about, the greasers are always willing to join one another to provide safety in numbers. Pony recognizes this after he is jumped, realizing that Darry, Soda or one of the other boys would have driven or walked along with him. They provide each other emotional support when they are in need; Pony is constantly encouraged by Johnny and his brothers, and Johnny receives pep talks from Pony and Dally. They defend each other against the Socs, both on the streets and in the rumble; and Soda defends Pony during his arguments with Darry. Even Dally is loyal to his friends, admitting to a crime committed by Two-Bit that gets him arrested; leaping into the burning church to save Johnny and Pony; and joining the rumble despite the injuries he received in the fire. The various greaser gangs, such as the Brumley boys and Tim Shepard's crew, unite as one when it comes to battling the Socs. 

The theme of relationships is significant to the novel The Outsiders. Throughout the novel, characters develop relationships with one another which affect their perspectives on life and emotional well-being. Relationships are formed among different social groups, as is the case with Ponyboy and Cherry, and unlikely bonds develop between individuals with drastically different personalities, such as the friendship between Dally and Johnny. As the novel progresses, relationships between characters are tested during adverse situations. Hinton gives interesting dynamics to these relationships by introducing conflict which the characters must respond to. Some relationships flourish, like Ponyboy and Johnny's friendship, while others are destroyed, like Sodapop and Sandy's romance. Hinton portrays friendships as uplifting, supportive, and positive, yet fragile. Johnny has a unique relationship with each Greaser member and provides much-needed sympathy to each one of his friends. After Johnny dies, all of the Greasers mourn and Dally loses his mind. Despite experiencing tragedy, Ponyboy is able to repair his controversial relationship with his oldest brother Darry and develop new friendships with Cherry and Randy throughout the novel. Caring relationships and mutual friendships provide support for each character to survive and thrive during tragic events in a broken society throughout the novel.

Aside from the differences in wealth and social status, there really isn't much to separate the greasers and Socs. They all seem to come from dysfunctional homes where their parents pay them little attention. Both groups love to hang out on the streets, getting into their own brand of trouble. The greasers love to drag race, lift hubcaps, shoplift, rob gas stations and fight. The Socs prefer to

... jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks, and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next.  (Chapter 1)

The greasers are "almost like hoods," stealing things because they need the money, while the Socs have more money than they know what to do with. Both groups love to break rules and laws, but most of the boys realize that "trouble with the police" means trouble at home. Ponyboy knows that "Darry would kill me if I got into trouble with the police." For both groups, it is a way to rebel against the changing times. Cherry is able to see the good in both the Socs and greasers, serving as a "spy" for the greasers while maintaining her love for her dead boyfriend. "Bob was something special...," but "Cherry saw the same things in Dallas." As for Randy, Bob's best friend, Pony realizes that "He ain't a Soc... he's just a guy."

Socs were just guys after all. Things were rough all over, but it was better that way.  (Chapter 7)

In the end, the roles reverse, and the greasers are the ones who get the headlines in the paper as heroes. Pony gets a fair shake in the court system, with Randy and Cherry testifying on his behalf; the Curtis brothers are allowed to remain together, and Pony will "still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want."

There is more than one theme in the novel, but one important theme is the importance of belonging. Family, friendship, and belonging are very important to the boys. They are part of gangs, but the gangs are like their family. There are a couple examples in the book when the importance of this bond is exemplified. 

Pony describes how important the gang’s friendship is to Johnny. Johnny is abused by his father and ignored by his mother. The gang is the only real family he has. They are the people who really care about him. 

He was the gang's pet, everyone's kid brother. . . He would have run away a million times if we hadn't been there. If it hadn't been for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are (Chapter 1). 

When Johnny has to go on the run for killing Bob, he asks Dally if his parents are worried about him. Dally tells him it doesn’t matter because he has the gang. When Johnny is in the hospital after rescuing the kids from the fire, the doctor allows the gang members to see him because he acknowledges they really are his family. Johnny refuses to see his mother. 

The theme of belonging is demonstrated in big ways and small. It means having someone there for you. Pony explains the Curtis house never locks its door. 

We always just stick our heads into each other's houses and holler "Hey" and walk in. Our front door is always unlocked in case one of the boys is hacked off at his parents and needs a place to lay over and cool off. We never could tell who we'd find stretched out on the sofa in the morning (Chapter 7).

The importance of the unlocked door is that it shows the boys look out for one another. They are a family. The house is there for anyone, at any time, whenever it is needed, just as the boys are there for each other.

Three prevalent themes in The Outsiders include the death of parents, gang violence, and friendship.

Darry, Ponyboy, and Sodapop's parents have died in a car accident, leaving Darry in charge of his younger brothers and forcing him to become a father figure before his time. Darry tries to keep Ponyboy on the straight and narrow, which leads to friction in the sibling relationship and sets the stage for the main action in The Outsiders.

Gang violence is also a central theme. The novel's plot is constructed around the ongoing conflict between the Socs and the greasers. The greasers, the gang to which Ponyboy and his brothers belong, get beaten up by the Socs, who consider jumping greasers a kind of sport. This conflict eventually leads to death when Johnny stabs one of the Socs in self-defense and goes on the run with Ponyboy.

Another essential theme is friendship, which is the glue that holds the greasers together. This can be seen after Johnny has stabbed Bob and Ponyboy takes off with him so that Johnny doesn't have to go into hiding alone. Johnny and Dally's eventual deaths reveal that it was not only within Ponyboy's family that these young men had bonds as close as those between brothers.

One of the main themes is class structure or conflict.  The "Greasers" are the poor lower-economic local boys who are in constant conflict with the rich socialites known as the "Socs".  Their upbringing and values differ, so they have a hard time seeing eye-to-eye.

Another theme is the sense of belonging--who am I and where do I fit in?  This is especially true of Pony who just wants to live his life despite all the violence and danger of the gangs which surrounds him.  He reads poetry and does the kind of random acts of kindness that violent and tough gang members do not, but at the same time, his friends and himself are constantly threatened.  He is struggling with his self-identity and where he belongs...this does mold a person into the final adult creation. 

With any piece of literature, you can find other themes by filling in the following blanks:  _______________________(name of story/novel/poem) is about _____________________________ (the first thing that comes to your mind).  This final blank is the theme.  It could be good vs. evil, loss of innocence, search for self, ambition, greed, compassion, men vs. women, etc.  Just be able to point out examples in the literature that back up your thinking.  Good Luck!

The title The Outsiders is a clue to the "outsider" status of many of the characters in this novel. Ostensibly there are two cliques of teenagers who are in a sort of tacit war with each other: the Greasers and the Socs (short for "social"). The Greasers are working class, from the poorer side of town, and they are looked down on by the Socs for being rough and beneath them socially.

But within the ranks of the Greasers are some boys who are intelligent and have an artistic mentality, which makes them different, and one could say they are seeking individuality and an identity apart from the group. These include Ponyboy, who is the main narrator of the story; Johnny, who dies tragically after saving children in a house fire; and Dallas Winston, who, despite being popular and something of a leader of the group, does display a somewhat sensitive side beneath his gruff exterior. Ponyboy in particular stands out; he writes poetry and is sensitive. He befriends Cherry, a Greaser girl, and she appreciates that he is kind to her and that they have things to talk about.

Because Dallas flirts with Cherry, and Cherry admits being attracted to Dallas (against her better judgment), Ponyboy is hurt and jealous. Cherry is rebelling against her own clique by liking both Dallas and Ponyboy. Ponyboy lashes out at Cherry when she tries to be kind, accusing her of giving him charity. She clears the air by saying she likes him and enjoyed their previous conversations. He asks if she can see the stars at night from her side of town. She says she can. He says he can too, and she smiles and understands that neither of them really fit into the groups they are forced to be part of. It is a struggle for them to remain individuals when they are labeled as members of these two cliques, but their "forbidden" friendship allows them both to learn from each other and show compassion for others, despite the animosity between the two groups.

Three major themes in the novel The Outsiders are class conflict, finding yourself, and loyalty.  The rich Socs who have everything and the poor greasers who struggle for anything material are a perfect example of the differences in the classes of American society.  Like the Socs' Cherry explains, the Socs are rich, sophisticated and much less emotional than the greasers.  The greasers remain themselves throughout the book even though some can see similarities between the two classes.  Ponyboy's search for himself, whether he will be enough for the world as he is, learns that he indeed is enough.  His rescue of the children is golden.  He can put on a tough act with the Socs, but remain one of the boys who still picks up glass so that no one gets a flat tire.  He can still be himself even if he needs to act like a tough greaser.  Loyalty is everywhere in the novel as a theme.  The tough greasers become the family for each of the members especially the youngest two.  The ending when Ponyboy and Darry realize that to survive and do well they need each other,  is a good illustration. For Johnny and Dally, the loyalty is also there.  Even though Johnny dies, Darry is proud of him.  In his grief, Darry also dies in a police confrontation, but again, the loyalty to each other is an illustration of the loyalty theme. 

Two of S.E. Hinton's most central themes to the novel are stereotyping and prejudice, so it is fitting that she purposefully divides the characters into two main camps: the Greasers and the Socs. 

This division between the characters sets up the premise for the entire novel.  The disparities between these two groups is more about social class than hair or clothing preferences.  The Greasers have a prejudiced view of the Socs, thinking that they must have it made to have so much money to be able to drive nice cars and throw beer blasts down by the river; conversely, the Socs despise the Greasers for their seemingly dirty appearances and low morals. 

Hinton ultimately uses the stereotypical gangs with their hatred and prejudice in The Outsiders to challenge those same stereotypes; in the end, Ponyboy learns to look past exteriors and see people as individuals.