Ponyboy's Develpoment Through Life

Authors Note: The authors purpose for writing this was to show you how and why Ponyboy is a dynamic character.

What’s the difference between static and dynamic characters? A dynamic character is a character that changes throughout his or her life, and a static character is someone who stays the same. Ponyboy Curtis is a dynamic character. He Changes a lot throughout this story. Ponyboy is a 14 year old greaser, but doesn’t act like one. He lives with his two brothers Darry and Sodapop. He is a very interesting boy who changes a lot. Ponyboy resembles a dynamic character because of how much he changes throughout the story.

Ponyboy starts to get tougher as the story goes along. After his encounter with the Soc’s, he starts to push himself towards getting tougher. He also starts to get accepted by the Greaser’s. He’s no longer just Soda and Darry’s brother, he’s a Greaser. Even if he doesn’t act like one or seem to be one, it’s part of who he is. The whole gang starts to grow more found of Ponyboy and they don’t think of him as a follower. It shows this when Ponyboy, Two-Bit, and Johnny go to the movies together and start to talk more and become better friends.

After Johnny and Ponyboy kill Bob and run away, they have to change their looks. Ponyboy has to bleach his hair so that the police wouldn’t notice him and so that he wouldn’t blend in. Johnny cuts his hair and they pour peroxide on it and have him sit in the sun for fifteen minutes to lighten up the color. Now, there’s no way that he would be recognizable by anybody. Also, when Ponyboy is at the church, he starts to lose a lot of weight. The reason why is because the only food they had is bologna, and he absolutely despises it! Though this band of brotherhood within the Greasers is already so strong when Ponyboy and Johnny kill Bob, their brotherhood is pushed to its limits and turns out for the better.

As the books progresses, Ponyboy starts to grow up. He realizes that everyone is human and they all deserve equal respect. No one is any better than someone else, and Ponyboy realizes this when he looks at a different perspective of people. Instead of the Greasers being Greasers and the Socs being Socs, He realizes that hey, there really isn’t too much of a difference between the two of us, we’re all human, we just don’t act the same, look the same, or maybe even be the same, but we are all human. He also realizes the fight won’t get them anywhere at all.

In conclusion, this is why Ponyboy is a dynamic character. Throughout the story his looks, personality, and his prospective of Greasers and Socs all change quite a bit. Although not everyone is a dynamic character, Ponyboy is. He shows much growth and acts older and handles situations very well. He’s an outgoing boy and never gives up. Due to this, Ponyboy is a dynamic character. Ponyboy is a dynamic character because of how much he changes throughout the story.

Gresers Vs. Society and Socs

Authors Note: The authors purpose for writing this was to show you how and why Ponyboy is a dynamic character.

Don’t you just hate when people judge you by your looks before even knowing you? Have you ever heard the expression, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? In the book “the outsiders”, there are two different types of people, the Socs and the Greasers. The Socs are known as the more popular, rich kids. The greasers are known as the poor delinquents. Although they aren’t really as bad as people may think. Too add to this, defying stereotypes is a very complex theme in this story.

Johnny Cade, a young Greaser, is thought to be a delinquent, but really, he's just misjudged. The Socs judge the Greasers by their looks. Johnny isn’t the most fortunate of people so he doesn’t look like he’s rich, he looks like he belongs to a gang, which he does. Johnny is actual a very nice 16 year old boy that is judged by the people he hangs out with. Just because the Greasers aren’t all rich, they shouldn’t be thought of as the scum on someone’s shoe.  Darry Curtis, the oldest member of the Greasers, is judge just because of who he hangs around with.

If Darry's parents hadn’t died in a car crash, he would have been most likely been a soc. He had a choice, give up his future in order to keep his family by taking care of his younger brothers Sodapop and Ponyboy, or take his chance at a scholership and be a very successful man. He used to be on the football team, he was once a star. He even had a scholarship for college, both academic and sport wise. Darry had his life set. He was popular, athletic, and smart, but he lost it all when his parents had died. If his parents hadn’t died, he would’ve been a Soc, and be living a good life. Instead, he is living in a bad neighborhood with the Greasers when he could be a Soc.

Before Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dallas had saved those kids from burning a live, they were believed to be horrible people because of their reputation, but really, they are no different from you and I. They just have a bad reputation. If people would stop and talk to them they would say,” hey, these guys aren’t half bad”. No one deserves to be mistreated for their looks or for who their friends are. I believe it isn't as much as the Greasers vs. Socs, but more of the Greasers vs. society. They are known as the bad, poor, and scummy kids, and no matter what they do, it doesn't change.

You shouldn’t judge a person before you get to know them it’s just not right. Who knows, maybe there really cool but look sort of funny, so you avoid them instead of finding out who they really are. People dont always have to be so stereotipical towards one another. Johnny, Darry, and the rest of the gang are judged before people ever really find out who they really are. They might be tough, and kind of scummy, but they still are humans.

Tragedy With the Greasers

Dear Ponyboy,
Why did you decide to run away? I mean, I know Darry might not be the best brother and he only hit you because he cares, and now, you’ve run off with Johnny after he killed Bob the head soc. Now you two are in deep trouble. The police and socs will be after you and the rest of the greasers. There will be questions to the rest of the greasers, they will find out you committed a murder and worry. I’m guessing Sodapop and Darry are both at home scared right now that you might have been killed, or will maybe never come back.
I think it was also very unnecessary for Johnny to have killed that soc. He was running away from him. I know you were almost about to breath your last breath Ponyboy, and it’s not your fault Johnny murdered the soc. He was just trying to protect you, but he also kind of ruined your reputation, and your life. Going to Dallas was a good Idea though, you got a gun for protection, and you got some new clothes even though there way to big on you. You also managed to get $50 to start you off on your new life.

Now you two are basically criminals, trying to run away from home after murdering a young boy. You guys even took a train to get out of town. You’re going to have to learn how to blend in while you’re there, well, you will eventually, word will get out soon about this you know. How are things for you now, I mean, you are a run-away child living in that old abandoned church? It sounds pretty creepy. Well I sure hope you can go back to your family all safe and cozy, like in the dream you had while sleeping at the church.
 I really do hope you can get home to your regular everyday life. People are already worried about you and it won’t be the same without you. I couldn't imagine the pain and suffering your going through, but you handel the sittuation very well. If I was in your spot, i wouldn't be able to go through life nearly as easily as you. Well, I hope you will make it home as soon as possible. I guess i'll talk to you later Ponyboy.

Your friend, Alec