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The Socs (pronounced ˈsoʊʃɪz / so-shis, short form of Socials) are a group of rich teenagers who live on the west side, or the south side in the movie. They are the rivals to the Greasers, and were described as having ‘money, cars, and futures’, according to Ponyboy Curtis.
What is a SOCS and a greaser?
SOCS and Greasers are the two rival groups in the young adult novel, The Outsiders written by Susan Eloise Hinton. The SOCS is a group of rich teenagers belonging to the West side of the town while the Greasers are the poorer teens belonging to the east side of the town.
What does grease symbolize in the outsiders?
The greasers’ long, slick hair is a symbol of their gang, both to themselves and to others. When Ponyboy and Johnny cut and dye their hair while in hiding they’re taking a symbolic step outside the gang. As a result, Ponyboy feels less secure, but also gains a bit of room in which to develop his individuality.
Why is Darry a greaser and not a SOC?
“You know, the only thing that keeps Darry from bein’ a Soc is us” (Hinton, 107). Pony thinks to himself that he is aware Darry could have been a Soc because he is too smart to be a Greaser. Unlike the other Greasers, Darry is intelligent, athletic, and cuts his hair. Even Darry’s old teammates are Soc members.
What is a greaser girl?
“Greaser” was the name given to the working-class street gangs of the 1950s and 1960s. The girls associated with this culture were tough, free-spirited and flashy. To incorporate the greaser girl sense of style into your own wardrobe, look for sharp silhouettes and retro-inspired clothing made to flatter.
Why do greasers wear grease?
By imitating the “tuff” hair of Elvis Presley, the greasers solidify their sense of style and identify themselves as part of a particular gang. It isn’t so much that they wear greasy hair, but that they put grease in their hair to slick it back. This was a status symbol, as was the long hair that many of them grew.
Why can’t Cherry go see Johnny?
On the way home, Ponyboy and Two-Bit see Cherry Valance in her Corvette. Ponyboy asks her to go see Johnny, but she says she cannot because Johnny killed Bob. She says that Bob had a sweet side and was only violent when drunk, as he was when he beat up Johnny.
How does Steve sing about the greasers in the Outsiders?
He sings the terms people use to describe greasers, and by mocking these terms, Steve creates space between the greasers and social opinion. His song becomes a “battle cry” for the greasers to disown social perception and rise above it as victors.
What are some quotes from the Outsiders about individual identity?
Below you will find the important quotes in The Outsiders related to the theme of Individual Identity. Her hardest hue to hold. But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Unlock explanations and citation info for this and every other The Outsiders quote.
Why did Randy ask the greaser why he saved the children?
Pony hates them, it is their fault Bob is dead, Johnny is dying, and he and Soda might be placed in a boys’ home. Randy asks him why he saved those children at the burning church. Randy says that he would never have done it, and that he can’t believe that a greaser would do anything like that.
What happens to Ponyboy at the end of the Outsiders?
By the end of the novel, Ponyboy has committed himself to a life that will, at least in part, encourage other boys to find their own paths and voices, outside of the gang identity. The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Individual Identity appears in each chapter of The Outsiders.