"The Outsiders"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the movie "The Outsiders" (Francis Coppola, 1983), about two opposing groups of teenagers in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1966 that fight over territory and pride. It looks at how the groups are divided by economics--the Soc group (as in "society") is middle class, with more money, better homes, and cars. The Greasers are the poor kids in town, those with little in the present and no real future. It discusses the theme of heroism and how heroism is admired by each group, though by heroism they mean living up to the gang code they have adopted and to taking action against members of the other group. It analyzes how through the course of the film, the definition of heroism changes first taking a more traditional turn in saving children from a fire, then leading to the truly heroic actions necessary to bring about real change in one's life.

From the Paper:

"The usual state of affairs is apparent early in the film when the Greasers sneak into a drive-in movie and are confronted by the Socs, leading to a fight and later retaliation. Not to participate would take an act of courage on the part of the individual that none of these young people yet possesses. Ponyboy is a sensitive young man who lives in a milieu that does not value sensitivity, so he hides the reality in macho posturing so as to remain part of the group. In some ways, though, he sees the futility of the constant warfare that marks life on the streets of this city. At the same time, he expresses himself in his writing, something he keeps to himself and pursues when alone. He shows a heroic side as he takes young Johnny under his wing as well, and the fact that Johnny looks up to him helps shape the change allows him to grow as a person in the course of the film."

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