Outsiders Stereotypes

Sherman Alexie once said “Don’t live up to your stereotypes.”This means to be yourself and not what others stereotype about you. The quote relates to the novel because Ponyboy got stereotyped by other people but he realizes that being a greaser stands out to him and he shouldn’t care what they think about him. In this novel, Hinton explores the theme, social status does not define who you are on the inside.
Johnny impacted Ponyboy by murdering Bob. In the novel it reads,” ‘I killed him,’ he said slowly.’I killed that boy.’ ” Johnny made this choice because the Socs were drowning Ponyboy, holding his head under water in a fountain and Johnny didn’t want to get beat up again. The result ended in Ponyboy and Johnny needing to run away so they won’t get into trouble. Ponyboy now could not go home.
He did this because he was dying quickly and he wouldn’t have time to talk to Ponyboy. Soon later Ponyboy found the note then read and took advice from it. This impacted Ponyboy because he eventually realizes that he shouldn’t care what others stereotype about him. In the novel he states,”Someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand then and wouldn’t be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore. It was important to me.” No one could change him.
The impact Johnny made on Ponyboy affected the rest of the story. Don’t let your social status take over who you are on the inside.Ponyboy developed from a boy who didn’t really like being a greaser to a boy that did. He learned the importance of being himself. Basically Johnny made a very important impact on