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Adversity In The Outsiders

Decent Essays

“The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.” The Outsiders is a novel by S.E. Hinton about a group of boys who face many challenges and hardships together. The novel is based off adversity and how although it could have negative impacts it could still bring some positivity like finding the real image of actions, overcoming fears, and bringing a family together. The Outsiders display how adversity can help people find the real meaning of actions. Ponyboy thinks that Darry doesn’t care about him and believes he’s too strict as said in this passage “Me and Darry just don't dig each other. I could never please him… He never hollered at Sodapop, even when Soda dropped out of school or got tickets for speeding. …show more content…

Johnny has a fear of Socs after getting jumped by them, which led him to kill Bob. He is regularly beaten by his father and emotionally abused by his mother. Ponyboy mentioned a quotation of Johnny “ I had never been jumped, but I had seen Johnny after four Socs got hold of him, and it wasn’t pretty. Johnny was scared of his own shadow after that.” After Johnny killed Bob trying to protect Ponyboy from drowning he ran away with Ponyboy to an abandoned church in Windrixville. At the time he was afraid of anybody that he thought could hurt him. When the church went up in flames Johnny made the decision to run in with Ponyboy to save the children in the burning building. His gallant actions led to him being paralyzed, but he learned to overcome his fears of easily being frightened. Before that, he always used to think about killing himself because he was scared and hurt, but now knowing that he has something to live for he thought he was too young to die. He said this “you want to know something, Ponyboy? I’m scared stiff. I used to think about killing myself… ”, “ I don't want to die now. It ain’t long enough. Sixteen years ain’t long enough. I wouldn’t mind it so much if there wasn’t so much stuff I ain’t done yet --- and so many things I ain’t seen. It’s not fair. You know what? That time we were in Windrixville was the only time I’ve been away from our neighbourhood.” Thus, adversity can help to overcome the hardships and

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