What Are The Similarities Of Teenage Gangs In The Outsiders

“What a lot of people don’t realize about gangs, in my opinion is that gang is not there to attack you. Eighty percent of people in a gang are there to stop anyone from attacking them. You join a gang for protection, not to go out and hit someone”- Micheal Caine. In other words, gangs are suppose to be like family, protect each and be there when they are in trouble. Although the Socials and Greasers are considered to be young teenage gangs sharing the same passion to be noticed for who they are from the inside and not the outside, they differ in terms of personalities. In the novel, The Outsiders written by S.E Hinton, two groups are introduced. These groups are the Greasers, the East-side poor kids, and the Socials, the West-side rich kids.
One similarity they share is, both groups the Socials and Greasers , do wrong/bad things such as commit crimes. In the novel The Outsiders, Ponyboy stated, “I ducked and tried to run for it, but the Soc caught my arm and twisted it behind my back, and shoved my face into the fountain. I fought, but the hand at the back of my neck was strong and I had to hold my breath. I’m dying.” Ponyboy stated this to the readers when the Socs attacked Ponyboy. They traveled to the East Side to find Ponyboy. After they found him, they wanted to kill him for hanging out with their Soc girl, Cherry Valance. The Social tried to drown him in a fountain in the park. Mostly, all Socs commit crimes by assaulting the Greasers. Greasers also do wrong/bad things such as commit crimes. For example, in the novel Ponyboy stated, “Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while.” In the novel Ponyboy thought this when he is walking home from the movie house. He was making a comparison between the Socs and Greasers. Some Greasers commit crimes. Although they don’t go out to hurt or kill people they carry weapons with them for self-defense. Although it’s illegal to have, they use it only for protection. Another similarity they share is, both Socs and Greasers have problems. According to the novel The Outsiders Cherry stated, “It seems like we’re always searching for something to satisfy us, and never finding it. Maybe if we could lose our cool we could.’ That was the truth. Socs were always behind a wall of aloofness, careful not to let their real selves show through.” As Cherry was talking with Ponyboy while coming from the movie house, she explained to Ponyboy that although Socs don’t show their problems, and their problems cannot be seen, they have problems inside them. They always