The Outsiders: Ponyboy vs Greg

Ponyboy and Greg are two very different people. Greg's family is a cookie cutter or ideal family. Ponyboy's neighborhood is poorer, and the kind of neighborhood where are more likely to be committed. A big difference is that Ponyboy has no parents, well Greg has loving parents. Even though they are two very different people they do share some similarities.


Both Greg and Ponyboy try to fit in. Ponyboy tries hard to fit in with the greasers, he tries to dress and act like a greaser. Ponyboy doesn't fit the description of of a greaser very well he has a high IQ, unlike most greasers who are not the smartest people, but are better with their hands. Ponyboy needs to fit in with the gang because both his two brothers are members of the gang, and he is alway around the gang members. Greg tries to fit in in middle school, he does this multiple time during the movie and it never gets the result he expected. Greg doesn't fit in in middle school because he is scrawny and not really a jock. One reason he thinks he needs to fit is because he thinks Rowly is making him unpopular, when really besides from a few times Rowly doesn't affect Greg's popularity, but is is himself that ends up making him unpopular.


Both Greg and Ponyboy are bullied. Greg is bullied by his older brother, Rodrick. One example of Rodrick bulling Greg is when Rodrick changes his clock, and makes him think he is supposed to have been up and ready for school an hour ago, at about two in the morning. Greg is also bullied by Patty. One example of Patty bulling Greg is her alway threatening to beat Greg up. Ponyboy is bullied by the Socs, An example of this is in chapter one when he is jump by the Socs on his way back from the movies.


Both Greg and Ponyboy don't use their heads. One example of Greg not using his head is him thinking that him joining wrestling, and thinking that it will somehow make him a class favorite. Another example of Greg not thinking stuff through is him pretending to be Rowley when Greg was hiding him and the kids in the pit in the construction site, and expecting him to get off free with out getting in trouble. A third example of Greg not using his head is him joining the play and expecting that at school the teacher would let him through an apple at Patty. One example of Ponyboy not thinking stuff through is him walking to the movies alone, and expecting that if he gets jumped he can defend himself or something.


As you can see Ponyboy and Greg have some similarities even though they live very different lives. Them not using there head, them being bullied, them trying to fit in are common similarities between people. Do you share any similarities with the characters in the stories?