4th post for The Outsiders-Relationship between characters and theme

I think the relationship between Darry and Ponyboy has gotten stronger towards the end of the book compared in the beginning of the book. Their relationship in the beginning weren’t as close as they are now. Darry was really harsh on Ponyboy, pushing him to get good grades and do well in school. That is why Darry want Ponyboy to do well so Ponyboy will have a good future and won’t end up like him and Soda. But Ponyboy thinks that Darry is really harsh on him because he yells at Ponyboy a lot. Darry is really strict and Ponyboy in a mean way, he thinks that Darry doesn’t care for him and doesn’t love him. Since the death of Johnny and Dally, Darry has been a little easy on Ponyboy and start to really care and support Ponyboy. Darry is trying to be more gentle and nice of how he treats Ponyboy. I think the tragic event of Johnny and Dallas has pulled them together to because they realize that they both need each other and that Soda needs them to and act more like family. Even while Ponyboy was very sick, Darry called him “little buddy” (166) which he never called Ponyboy before. I think overall that Darry realizes that that being nicer then yelling at Ponyboy is better way to encourage Ponyboy to do well and get a good education. And I also think that Ponyboy realizes that Darry really care and loves him and he is only trying to make sure he will have the best future possible and Ponyboy now realizes that Darry is trying to do everything he can to give Ponyboy the best life possible since their parents aren’t them to guide the way.

I think another theme for this book is family. Throughout the book, you see that the Greasers stick together, help each other out, and support each other no matter what. Without the Greaser gang, Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry wouldn’t feel as much of family without their gang. They are the only family they had since Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry lost their parents.