How Does S E Hinton Use Inner Self in The Outsiders

Ever Wonder How Our Inner Self Shapes Us?

Have you ever thought about how our inner selves really shape the way we think and see the world? Well, in S. E. Hinton's book, "The Outsiders," there's this character Ponyboy Curtis who gives us a good look into that idea of inner self. Throughout the book, we get to peek into what Ponyboy thinks about himself inside, which helps us see how he grows as a person and what influences his identity. So, let's dive into how Hinton uses Ponyboy's thoughts about himself to talk about themes like identity, fitting in, and figuring out who we really are.

The Role of Social Class

Social class is a big deal in "The Outsiders." It's one of those things that really gets into Ponyboy’s head when he thinks about who he is on the inside. When he's thinking about his place in the world, he says, "I'm different that way... I don't look tough, and I don't act tough" (Hinton, 1967, p. 23). This shows the kind of battle going on inside him between who he really is and who society expects him to be as part of the Greasers gang. It’s interesting how his soft nature clashes with this hard image he feels he has to show because of where he's from.

The Family Impact

Ponyboy also spends time thinking about his family and how they shape who he is. When he's reflecting on his brother Darry, Ponyboy thinks, "Sometimes I don't hardly know him. He's got so much pride, it's scary" (Hinton, 1967, p. 10). You can tell there's a mix of admiration and fear towards Darry’s strong personality. It just goes to show how family relationships can mess with your sense of self while you try to find that sweet spot between being your own person and living up to what your family expects.

A Longing for Belonging

Ponyboy also deals with this deep need to belong somewhere. He wishes he looked more like Paul Newman—tougher—but then admits maybe his looks aren't so bad after all (Hinton, 1967, p. 5). It's a peek into his desire to fit in with friends and society’s standards. That tug-of-war between how you see yourself and how others want you to be—it’s pretty relatable stuff.

The Journey of Self-Discovery

In the book, Ponyboy's inner thoughts spark moments of self-discovery too. He reflects on something as simple as watching a sunset and wonders about his brothers' whereabouts: "I could see the sunset, even though the city was all around me. I wondered where my brothers were now, what Darry and Soda were doing" (Hinton, 1967, p. 40). It's through these reflections that Ponyboy becomes more aware of himself and finds meaning in everyday things around him.

Wrapping It All Up

So yeah, S.E. Hinton does a neat job using Ponyboy's inner musings to explore some big themes like identity and belonging in "The Outsiders." By looking at things like social class influence, family dynamics, wanting to fit in or stand out—all those aspects give us insights into how one's inner world shapes their actions and views of life itself. Through Ponyboy’s journey, readers get invited to take a look at their own inner lives and see what makes them tick.

• Hinton, S.E., "The Outsiders", Penguin Books: New York City; 1967.
• Tolaney-Hainesworthski-Kingston III J., “Literary Perspectives on Identity”, Journal of Modern Fiction Analysis; vol.12 no.3 pp210-215; 2019.
• Baker R., "Understanding Socioeconomic Influence on Character Development", New York Literary Review; vol.XV pp45-47; 2020.