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by: Patrick Tran
I personally found it quite hard to recognize the symbols in ''The Outsiders,'' but I did my best to try and explain what I believe are two truly major symbols:
The greaser hairstyles
The greaser hair is quite important in the book, and is used to distinguish ''greasers'' from ordinary people; it's acts as a sort of ''trademark'' for the greaser, and when having a greaser hairstyle, people are perceived differently by their peers. Unlike the Socs, whose ''trademarks'' are usually fancy cars and madras apparel, the greasers aren't as wealthy, and have to find more affordable ways to distinguish themselves from society. Because of the symbolic importance of their hair, most greasers try to take care of them, such as Ponyboy, who takes great pride in his hair and was very reluctant to bleach it. Dally, a greaser himself, notices Ponyboys change, and states that he looks different with his hair bleached. All of the greasers style their hair differently: Steve Randle styles his hair in complicated swirls, Soda simply combs his hair back, and Johnny combs his hair to one side. However, despite the difference of hairstyles, all the boys are marked as greasers to those around them. Overall, the greasers hairstyle somewhat represents the poorness of the East Side greasers, having to find a more affordable trademark than the Socs, and distinguishes them from then rest of society, giving them their unique identity.
The Soc's apparel and cars
The Socials' apparel and cars is an essential symbol of the Socs' wealth. Unlike the greasers, the Socs have a tremendous amount of wealth and can afford to buy fancy clothes and cars. The Socs are perceived differently when compared to the greasers, and seem more intelligent and innocent compared to the wild and ''bad boy'' look of the greasers. Ponyboy himself expresses this fact, and states, ''That's why people don't ever think to blame the Socs and are always ready to jump on us. We look hoody and they look decent.'' In addition, the Socs' apparel and cars is also a symbol of their power and dominance over the greasers, having the money to purchase fancy cars and clothes while the greasers have run-down cars and ''hoody'' clothes. Furthermore, it reminds the greasers (especially Ponyboy) that they are vulnerable and that no matter what happens during the rumbles they have against each other, the Socs will get all the breaks in life and the greasers will always have it rough; however, we find out that this is untrue, and both the Socs and the greasers have problems, despite how different they are. All in all, the Socials' apparel and cars symbolizes the wealth and power that they have over the greasers, and reminds us that the greasers are vulnerable compared to the Socs.
I personally found it quite hard to recognize the symbols in ''The Outsiders,'' but I did my best to try and explain what I believe are two truly major symbols:
The greaser hairstyles
The greaser hair is quite important in the book, and is used to distinguish ''greasers'' from ordinary people; it's acts as a sort of ''trademark'' for the greaser, and when having a greaser hairstyle, people are perceived differently by their peers. Unlike the Socs, whose ''trademarks'' are usually fancy cars and madras apparel, the greasers aren't as wealthy, and have to find more affordable ways to distinguish themselves from society. Because of the symbolic importance of their hair, most greasers try to take care of them, such as Ponyboy, who takes great pride in his hair and was very reluctant to bleach it. Dally, a greaser himself, notices Ponyboys change, and states that he looks different with his hair bleached. All of the greasers style their hair differently: Steve Randle styles his hair in complicated swirls, Soda simply combs his hair back, and Johnny combs his hair to one side. However, despite the difference of hairstyles, all the boys are marked as greasers to those around them. Overall, the greasers hairstyle somewhat represents the poorness of the East Side greasers, having to find a more affordable trademark than the Socs, and distinguishes them from then rest of society, giving them their unique identity.
The Soc's apparel and cars
The Socials' apparel and cars is an essential symbol of the Socs' wealth. Unlike the greasers, the Socs have a tremendous amount of wealth and can afford to buy fancy clothes and cars. The Socs are perceived differently when compared to the greasers, and seem more intelligent and innocent compared to the wild and ''bad boy'' look of the greasers. Ponyboy himself expresses this fact, and states, ''That's why people don't ever think to blame the Socs and are always ready to jump on us. We look hoody and they look decent.'' In addition, the Socs' apparel and cars is also a symbol of their power and dominance over the greasers, having the money to purchase fancy cars and clothes while the greasers have run-down cars and ''hoody'' clothes. Furthermore, it reminds the greasers (especially Ponyboy) that they are vulnerable and that no matter what happens during the rumbles they have against each other, the Socs will get all the breaks in life and the greasers will always have it rough; however, we find out that this is untrue, and both the Socs and the greasers have problems, despite how different they are. All in all, the Socials' apparel and cars symbolizes the wealth and power that they have over the greasers, and reminds us that the greasers are vulnerable compared to the Socs.