The first six chapters of The Outsiders by Hinton have Ponyboy as the narrator who struggles to survive the conflict he has with his brother Darry; the battle between the Socs and the Greasers; and trying to prove how he's not any of the two. It is also evident how he can’t stand the rivalry between the Socs and Greasers and how much he hates the difference between the two social classes. Fortunately, Ponyboy is compelled to live his life outside the rules of both gangs. This made him know each character deeper and not believe only what the society said so.
Ponyboy is against his eldest brother, Darry. The death of his parents made the eldest son strict with him, but Ponyboy can’t appreciate his intentions just like how much he hates the Socs. He thinks Darry is just being superior and sees Ponyboy as an obligation, a burden. When Darry slapped him for the first time when the younger came home late, Ponyboy ran away in anger. Darry, the leader of the Greasers, is the eldest and he is burdened with the responsibilty to discipline Ponyboy, but the latter fails to understand his reasons. He is suffocated by the rules outside the house made by the Socs and the Greasers and the rules inside the house made by Darry. Since Darry holds two leadership roles, in his family and his gang, his discipline and treatment of Ponyboy makes the younger weak and dependent. His running away was his exit to prove that he can be independent.
Second important person Ponyboy meets is Cherry. When he first met her in the Nightly Double, Dally, a Greaser, was rude to Cherry which made her to conclude more that Ponyboy and Johnny are also Greasers by character, rude. When she started to talk to Ponyboy, she found out that he is not the type who fits the bias against the Greasers. She found Ponyboy nice and caring and impressed that he is a one of a kind Greaser. Cherry talks with Ponyboy about Johnny and tells him that, just like other Greasers, not all the Socs are arrogant and violent. She also thinks that money may be a barrier, but truth is, there’s a lot to envy about the other social circle. The Socs just assume the upperhand and Greasers are always on their guard, but both are insecure because they can’t have what’s on the other side. As the exchange of culture progress, Ponyboy appreciates how Cherry sets herself apart from the Socs. She decides to be friends with the Greasers after Bob’s death and to spy for them attempting to stop more deaths. Cherry is another Ponyboy who does not let social status limit good deeds. Their minds bridged the social gap. Cherry and Ponyboy have the same point of view about life.
Third striving victim is Johnny. He was with Ponyboy when the latter started to live his life independently. When the Socs ganged them up because of groundless jealousy, Johnny defensively killed Bob. This made them run away to countryside where they had the chance to know more about each other and about life. They watched the sunset and reflected on a poem ‘Nothing Gold can stay’. First, they weren’t able to fully understand it, but later, Johnny had told Pony to stay gold after he realizes the uselessness of fighting. He knows that Ponyboy is different from others and wanted him to have the golden qualities. They learned that nothing can stay long; that everything will come to an end, just like the time they spent in the church. Ponyboy later concludes that although Johnny is a school dropout, he can understand well about the southern gentlemen in the book, ‘Gone with the Wind’, He realizes that not all poor gangsters are low-life and shallow. After knowing each other’s concealed feelings, Ponyboy and Johnny identify with each other deeper even in silence. Still, they know that they are forever fugitives and victims of the rich and poor rivalry.
With the first six chapters, readers learn how Ponyboy, a teenager but keen observer can still be non-judgmental. His young age makes it difficult for him to take in all the violence and harsh treatment he receives from those who think they are superior, the Socs and Darry. The actions Ponyboy made after meeting Cherry opened his mind to the forbidden truth that not all Socs are discriminating. His fight with Darry, his running away, reflection with Johnny, friendship with Cherry and acts of heroism-- all show how he chooses to be his own man. He opt not to be discriminating and not to live the life of a gangster. Ponyboy identifies other people’s personalities not by judging them but by taking himself out of the rivalry. His values don’t become a victim but rather changed by the gangs and the depressing status. His understanding of the people around him is not based on whether they are from the Socs or the Greasers.
