Title: The Outsiders- By Se Hinton Why Gangs Portrayed In This Novel Are Real

Gangs. This is what is portrayed in SE Hinton's novel, The Outsiders. Two different gangs from opposite ends of the social ladder clash in this epic novel of social tension between two rival groups, the Socs and the Greasers. The main character, 14-year-old Ponyboy, is a Greaser who lives under the cycle of poverty and endless pressure from the Socs. They are the upper class Westside crowd who are accepted in society. The Greasers, in contrast, struggle to put food on the table and are social outcasts. SE Hinton has mentioned about gangs several times in her novel. But what really defines a gang? According to some, it is, "A group of young people who spend time together for social reasons." While others define gangs as, "A group of people who work together for some criminal or antisocial purpose." Although these are the most popular ones, it does not mean there aren't more definitions, as it is an ever evolving phenomenon. In the Outsiders, many different gangs are depicted. This led me to believe that the gangs are very real in this tale. The main reason behind this is the fact they give three main characteristics of a gang. They are; the fear they instill on the general public, the marked territory, and rivalry between other gangs.

The fear they instill on the general public is there for reputation purposes. If you're an established person with a reputation to protect, none of the very many below you will question your authority. The fear the community has for the Greasers, as well as the Socs, was evident when Ponyboy stated that, "One day the Socs are a menace to society, the next they are the greatest contributions." On the other hand, Greasers were always known as a peril to the community. This novel was set in the 50s era, where gang's began making their mark. The fear given to the community was important for the domination of these many gangs.

Territory is usually divided by social class. For example, in New York City, the "Greasers" would live in Brooklyn, while the "Socs" would reside in Clifton Park. In the case of this tale, Greasers live in the Eastside, while the Socs live in the West. "Turfs," are the areas in which the gangs dwell. They can be marked, but are usually known by word of mouth, as in The Outsiders. When Ponyboy and Johnny came across the drunken Socs, Ponyboy commented how this was their ground. The Socs also acknowledged that it indeed was. The fear, or more respect, factor also applies here. The residents within a certain gang's turf usually respect the gang, or fear them. An example was when the two gangs had a "showdown," Steve commented that no one would dare call the cops, because there would be a manhunt from both sides. Though they didn't

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