The Outsiders ch 9-10

Sodapop says that he likes fighting because "[i]t's action. It's a contest, Like a drag race or a dance or something" (133). Steve, is more violent in the sense that he likes fighting because he wants to "beat those Soc' head in" (133) because he enjoys it. The boys explain that Darry likes to fight because he gets to show off his muscles.

Ponyboy says that Darry likes to take part in anything related to strength. Ponyboy will fight, but he doesn't like it. Darry is hesitant to let Ponyboy fight because he has lost weight and strength since being in Windrixville. He also doesn't like that Ponyboy will be fighting without Johnny, since they usually protect each other.

Dally and Ponyboy go to the hospital after the fight to see Johnny and share the good news that they won the rumble. Dally is particularly eager to get there assumedly because he worries that Johnny is dying, and thinks the good news may cheer him up.

Darry first takes on Paul Holden in the Rumble. Paul is significant because "he and Darry used to buddy it around all the time" (142).

Paul and Darry have a lot in common as they were both on the football team together. The only thing that separated them was their association with their respective gangs. Ponyboy believes that Darry was ashamed to be associated with some of the greasers who were hoods, but because he is part of the greaser gang, he needs to fight someone who he really has no individual problems with for the sake of the group.

Ponyboy notes that the difference between Tim Sheppard's gang and theirs was that "they had a leader and were organized; we were just buddies who stuck together - each man was his own leader" (138). Pony thought that this gave their gang the advantage.

Tim Sheppard's gang was also more criminal. They enjoyed being 'hood', while Pony and his brothers were more determined to make something of their lives.

Ponyboy remarks that Johnny's death was particularly difficult for Dally because he "was the only thing Dally loved" (152). Dally was a hard and cold person, but Johnny's death became the breaking point for him. He was unable to control his emotions and keep his cool, because of the strong emotions he felt for Johnny and the pain he felt for losing him.

Ponyboy knows that no one would be writing editorials praising Dally for being a hero since he was perceived as a hoodlum. He does; however, understand the difference that Dally has made. He remarks memories he has of Dally "pulling Johnny through the window of the burning church; Dally risking his life for us, trying to keep Johnny out of trouble" (154). While Pony knows that he did not die a hero, he did die gallant as Johnny described him.

At this point in the novel, Ponyboy begins to question his association with the gang and the reasons that he feels proud to be a member. He asks himself why being a greaser with a "reputation for being a hood" (132) is so important to him. As an individual, he doesn't want to be a hood who steals and drinks and has a bad reputation, but he feels compelled to be proud (or at least pretend to be proud) of it because it is the pride of the gang.

This quote shows Ponyboy's real feelings about being a hood, and shows, once again, that the individual and the group can be distinct from one another.

Johnny's last words to Ponyboy were "'Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold" (148). This message refers back to the poem that Johnny and Pony read while they were at the church in Windrixville. Stay gold in this particular instance refers to being true to yourself and attempting to remain innocent an uncorrupted.

When Johnny, in his final hour, tells Ponyboy to "Stay Gold" he is telling him to not conform to what society dictates, and to stay true to his pure self despite the violent and tumultuous world he lives in.

The climax of this novel is Johnny's death.

The rising action develops Johnny and Pony's relationship, and his death is the highest peak of action in the novel. The narrative builds up to this moment, and we can assume that after his death, everything will change.