According to the critic, Eric Tribunella, “The Outsiders is a ‘problem novel’, these, and not merely the fact of physical violence, are the problems it represents, and these collective, systematic problems are bigger than the lives of these particular young adults.” Also, some critics believe that The Outsiders glorifies violence (Sardina 3). Throughout the novel, violence, drugs, alcohol, and class separation are struggles of Ponyboy, but this is really what teenagers face. It may appear to the adults that this is “unrealistic”, but, in reality, this is normal for teenagers. Adults feel or pretend to feel as though their child is not exposed to the horrific wonders of the world; however, adults, new flash this is real. Hinton charged with the honesty of the violence of the world, and adults did not like that. Yes, The Outsiders was shocking at the time of its release, but it was due to its portrayal of violence (Tribunella 90). In a critical evaluation it …show more content…
In the novel, one of the main conflicts is between the two rival groups, the socs and the greasers. The difference in the models of youth. The Socs are wealthy, and the teenage socs live a life of “advantages”. The greasers work for what they earn, and they have a reputation of being thugs. Most greasers do not finish school, and they settle with their life; however, Ponyboy has a strong desire for education, and he plans on succeeding in his life. That is his solution to the life of him and his family. He plans on doing better for himself, instead of settling with the reputation of the average greaser. During the novel, Johnny killed a soc that was murdering Ponyboy. Ponyboy and Johnny escaped to an abandoned house, changed their hair, and passed time playing cards. A girl, Cherry, helps spy on the Socs, and her evidence convinces Johnny that they should return home. They needed to turn themselves in, for they could not run forever. At the end of the story, Ponyboy returns to school trying to live the normal life (Sardina 3). His grades drop, and his english teacher talks to him because she expects better of him, so he has another chance to bring up his grade. Ponyboy turns in a story about the greasers; he turns in The Outsiders. For the critics who see this as a “problem novel”, they lack an open eye to the ideas of others. Sure anyone can point out the problems of a story, but it