Character Change Question
Beginning:
●Ponyboy lacks sense of belonging to the gang, then a sense of importance ● “...so I’m not like them. And nobody in our gang digs movies and books the way I do. For a while there, I thought I was the only person in the world that did. So I loned it.” (p.2) -Shows Ponyboy’s lack of taking a role in the greasers -Sense of not emulating the characteristics of those in the gang -Ponyboy is a tag-along and an observer of the gang rather than a participant ●Johnny kills Bob to save Ponyboy and causes a change in their gang roles -Johnny kills member of Socs because of the situation Ponyboy was in -Ponyboy and Johnny now take a role in the gang -Dally directs them to hide out -Gang will provide cover for them, so police don’t get them
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Cause of Change: ●Johnny prepares to dye and cut Ponyboy’s and Johnny’s hair
-“Our hair labeled us as greasers, too – it was our trademark. The one thing we were proud of.” (p. 71)
- “‘Glory,’ said a rough but familiar voice, ‘he looks different with his hair like that.’” (p.79) ●Haircuts are symbolic change in Ponyboy and Johnny -Allows for cut from the social identity they have as hoodlum greasers -Allows them to be individuals - Ponyboy recites Robert Frost poem - reads Gone with the Wind
●Fire at church = Dally, Johnny, and Ponyboy turn into heroes -Save children from burning building -Suffer wounds of their own
-Ponyboy = burns on his back (needed to be saved by one of the elder greasers)
-Johnny = seriously injured by the collapse of the roof of the church (hospitalized); ends up dying
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Evidence of Change (outcome / end of story): ●Randy (Socs member) approaches Ponyboy -comments that