“Stay gold PonyBoy” This is the most well known quote from the Outsiders. The meaning within this quote goes far deeper than what might be portrayed. This quote breaks the surface during a difficult time for Pony and Johnny. When these boys end up hiding in a barn away from their family, Ponyboy recites a poem to Johnny watching the sunset. One line in the poem says “nothing gold can stay” meaning that all good things will eventually come to an end. When Johnny is laying in the hospital bed dying he faintly says “stay gold Ponyboy”. Throughout the whole book there are many messages that are trying to be portrayed. The message that you will be able to attain from this quote is the possibility of all things staying good. By this I mean that when something good, or gold, happens in life the chance of this good thing remaining is not necessarily high, but it is there.
The message that I was able to connect to most naturally is the loyalty and love within the family this group of greasers have created. The bond that is cherished so deeply between these teens is unbreakable. The reason that this connection lies so deep in my heart is for the simple reason of what family means to me. I will always be there for my family and closest friends as they will always be there for me. I hold deep the love, care, and compassion we show for each other as the family in the Outsiders does. I believe one of the biggest messages being shown in this book is loyalty and respect. For me the biggest moment in the book that this bond and connection is represented is when Darry and Soda show up at the hospital after the fire. The glow and pure joy on Pony's face after not being able to see his brothers for 5 days was heartwarming. The unbreakable bond between the brothers is amazing and unreal.
In the end this book aims to teach the youth of today what really matters in life. Not the fights, not winning, but love, loyalty, and life itself. S.E. Hinton ties this idea into the story when Randy meets with Pony about the upcoming rumble. Randy says “Greasers will still be greasers and socs will still be socs…” Randy says this to Ponyboy in the car just before the rumble. He spoke of how he might run away and that he would not be fighting in the rumble. Why? “It is useless; greasers will still be greasers and socs will still be socs.” This demonstrates the uselessness of fighting. It shows you how even someone who lived to fight his whole life can change his mind set due to one tragic event.
At the end of the day the lesson would lie as follows; not all fights are won with fists and knives.
No comments:
Post a Comment