Outsiders: Gang Members

The need to belong is a fundamental need at heart all of unselfishness, and has played a key role in parliamentary procedure since the beginning of time. The novel by S. E Hinton, The Outsiders conveys this need and the yearning to feel social acceptance within us all. The Outsiders comments on this inherent part of humanity through its realistic portrayal of teenage caboodle up life, centering on the dependency of the crew members to feel a sense of inclusion and support from their gang. store The Outsiders plot line The Outsiders conveys that the need to belong is apparent within everyone through the universality of the needs and views of the gang members.This conveys that finding a place to belong, as the characters do within their own gangs, is a basic aspect of man. These concepts are explored through the archetypal structure of the gangs represented within The Outsiders that the earreach is able to relate to, with the gangs undefended hierarchy and their fierce dedica tion and dependency present between the gang members. The novel depicts Ponyboys awakening to the true similarities between the rival gangs, and that although they brand themselves as polar opposites, both gangs at the heart are the same.It is slowly revealed that both gangs exist in order to give the teenagers a place to deal with gilds expectations and to feel a sense of inclusion, needs that the whole of society can relate to. The rivalry between the gang also signifies the universality of the gangs, as it is common throughout society for groups to bond themselves through a sense of us versus them, fulfilling the need within humanity for inclusion and camaraderie. There is also a strong tribal element within the gangs, as both gangs are male centered, territorial and resort to violence.This conveys the inherent need within humanity to belong, as tribes have formed since the beginning of time as an answer to this need. The tribal nature of the gangs also conveys the gang members reliance on the gang and the support it offers them, as throughout history rejection from the tribe leads to death. The gangs instinctually resorting to violence also comments on the tribal nature of the gang, as they conform to primitive behavior of fusion against others. Hintons employment of point of view conveys to the audience Ponyboys personal opinions and discoveries about the true nature of the gangs.Through Ponyboy realizing the similarities between the gangs and questioning the violent nature of the gangs, the audience gains a greater understanding of the universality of belonging within a group and the inherent need to feel accepted within all of humanity. Although in that location is a universal element present in the gang life, there are also significant differences between the two rival gangs. These differences capture the immensity of belonging as it focuses on the greasers loyalty, love and dependency within the gang that the SOCS fagt have.The Greasers need to b elong, unlike the SOCS, stems from their alienation and animadversion from mainstream society. As the title conveys, they are outsiders, so the unity within the gang is much stronger as they have nowhere else to go. The sense of security created by the gang strengthens the relationships and loyalty between the gang members, making them more like a family then a group of friends. This is presented throughout the book, as the different greasers convey their trueness to the gang and their willingness to put themselves on the line in order to harbor a fellow gang member. When youre a gang, you stick up for the members. If you dont stick up for them, stick together, it isnt a gang anymore. Hiltons employment of vernacular language and symbolism conveys the greasers loyalty to their gang as they mark themselves apart from the rest of society through their appearance and slang. The greasers take a special pride in their long hair, a uniform for the gang of outcasts. The Outsiders conve ys that more than anything, humanity feels a need to belong, through the range of characters and their different needs and connection to their gang.Hiltons employment of characterization captures the receive behind man to belong, and what it can compel someone to do. Dally and Johnny are key examples of this, as their dependency on the gang is due to them non having a supportive family or another place to turn to. This is contrasted with the character of Darry, a more peripheral member of the gang who, due to his stable theorize and his history of athletic achievements, doesnt depend on the gang for self fulfillment and a life purpose. The Outsiders leads the audience to question the consequence of belonging through the obedience of the gang contrasted with biological bonds of family.Throughout the entire novel, Ponyboy struggles to find his place within the gang and within his family unit, as he fights with his brothers and feels alienated and unwanted. As Ponyboy tries to fin d his place within life, he turns away from his brothers and towards the support of the greaser family. Ponyboys journey is compared with Johnny, who is pushed away by his parents and looks to the greaser gang for family support and comfort. As Ponyboy gains an insight into Johnnys life he in turn learns to appreciate his brothers and the sense of belonging they offer. It aint the same thing as having your own folks trouble about you Johnny said simply. The need to belong is also explored in the Outsiders through the breaking up of the gang following the dramatic events that occur. Throughout the novel, the gang slowly collapses into a state of chaos, revealing to the audience the gang members dependency on the gang for their self identity and a causal agent for living. The gang is conveyed to have a set structure at the beginning of the novel, each member having their own role within the gang.While the three brothers are the fanny of the gang, as they offer safety and hospitalit y to the other gang members, it is Johnny who is the heart of the gang, as the gang is tied together through their need to protect and love Johnny. As the bonds between the brothers begin to crumble, the fractures of the gang become apparent. It is the death of Johnny that leads to the gang collapsing and Dallys suicide.This is conveyed through emotive language at the effect Johnnys death plays on each character, Soda looked like he was going to cry, Two-Bits eyes were closed and his teeth were clench My heart was pounding in slow thumps. Dallys suicide depicts his need of the gang, as he loses his will to live following Johnnys death and the disbanding of the gang. Ponyboy enters a state of discord following the death of his friends that eventually allows him to move onto a state of reflection and growth as he realizes the significance of his belonging within his family and the importance of caring for the needs of his family and the gang in order to build a sense of solidarity an d belonging. Insert Conclusion