The Stranger

One of my summer reading books for school this year was The Stranger, written by Albert Camus. Everything about this book, the characters, the emotions and the ending were so unexpected and strange if kept me guessing. Throughout the story things were constantly changing and I never fully understood the main character Meursault. Meursault is the protagonist and narrator of the story. He sees no point to life and is constantly being negative and what we call a "Debbie downer." But he had a lover named Marie; now this is what blew my mind. He says he has no emotion or feeling towards anything but calls Marie his lover. Another reason I was befuddled by him was how emotional he became when he was sentenced and had to hear from others their thoughts on him. He being frustrated and angry showed deep down he had some emotion and saying he did not care was a front. Now, I could be completely wrong and he could have no emotion and his front is actually who he is but who knows.. See my dilemma! I never fully understood Meursault but he being the way he is captivated me. He is one of the reasons I liked this narrative so much. He was so different and discombobulated and I found that so interesting. Especially because everyone is different in their own way and his emotional frustration helped me along with other readers relate. Marie is Meursault's lover and she is also a strange character. She knows him better than anyone and how he feels, this attracts her. Someone who pushes her away by certain actions and does not marry her but makes love to her. It is the most confusing relationship and I questioned why she stayed. Did she stay because she was concerned, because she was in love or was she emotional confused as well and felt comfortable around him. Why would she stay knowing he feels no emotion and will not marry her, what is her motivation ? Is it for the love making or is there something she is hiding? I constantly asked myself these questions trying to put the pieces together but there was always one missing. Their romance, if you can even call it that, confused me but kept me on my toes which I liked; it was never boring. The ending was very surprising and I never even thought he would commit murder or go to jail. It was a twist in the story and the characters emotion. All in all it was a great narrative and one of my favorites.

"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" -Joyce Carol Oats

When I first started reading, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oats, I was lost and confused as to what the moral/point of the story was. As I continued to read and learn more about the main character and the supporting characters it became a tiny more clear but still a little foggy. The story to be overall was captivating because you never knew what was going to happen next or if the person was who they said they were. I caught myself trying to jump ahead and guess what was going to happen next but I was mistaken each time; this kept me interested. As the story went along I noticed Oats used multiple contents of detail when describing characters and the objects they were using or surrounding them. This helped me as a reader related to the characters and the plot more because I could put myself in the situation. Connie's life was relatable to girls my age because we focus on our looks, boys, and life and we have the sibling that we call "the favorite chid." I believe Oats portrayed Connie this way so we could relate and enjoy the story more. The plot was very strange and weird to me; I liked it. Like I said in the beginning you never knew what was going to happen next and this kept you on your toes and thirsty for more. Arnold Friend is a character I will never be able to figure out, is who he says he is or is he a creepy man. It threw me when he knew everything about Connie and her family, my reaction was "oh my goodness Connie do not fall for it!" The way he spoke to her as if she was already showed me how demanding he can be and he takes pride in ownership; what is his is not one else's. I think Oats used the dialogue between Connie and Arnold to describe their characters and show another side to them. Overall Oats story was one you had to keep reading until to end to find out what happens but when you get to the end she does not reveal what happens. Now, this made me so mad I was like "noo did she go, did she stay, what did he do?!" Actually some girls and I were discussing it in class and we were saying how we wanted to know the ending and we were all shocked Oats did not say what happened. It was a great story and I recommended it already !

The Outsiders: literature

While reading The Outsiders by S.E Hinton there were a few pieces of popular literature named within the novel. Many of the characters use the pieces to compare, describe and characterize themselves. In the beginning of the novel, Ponyboy compares himself to a character named Pip from Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations. The two boys share similar attributes. They both are poor and struggle with the fact of not knowing were their place is and their true value. Next, Johnny and Ponyboy characterized their lives with Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” They both begin to realize that like is a constant battle and at some point, whether they like it or not, they have to face reality and the consequences that go along with it. Also, Johnny related Dally to a man in Gone with the Wind, a book Johnny bought Ponyboy because he was always saying how much he wanted to read it. Most importantly, Cherry and Ponyboy discuss books and this helps them understand each other more. This connection caused by literature between the two, plays a key role in reuniting the greasers and socials. Through all these pieces of literature, the opposing groups begin to understand others actions and why they behave a certain way. By the end of the novel, we come to realize that The Outsiders is an autobiography by Ponyboy, he is writing the paper for English class. This final representation of literature proves how it can have an effect on many individuals. Literature is a standout idea in this novel. It is used multiple times and has a huge impact on everyone involved. The literature changes all the characters in the novel and also has an impact on the reader. It being involved will help readers understand more of what is going on and why things are they way they are. Literature brings people together all throughout the novel and also life. It is used in everyday activities and can bring others together no matter if they are rich, poor, black, white etc. It is very powerful.

The Outsiders: friendship

An inseparable bond between two people can be magical. That one person who will stick by your side through anything, you trust them completely and call them your best friend. This is almost an essential relationship to have in your life. In the novel The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton a special connection occurs between two greasers, Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade. PonyBoy Curtis is the youngest greaser at age fourteen and the narrator of the story. He has an interest in literary works and received academic accomplishments, setting him apart from the majority of the greasers. Johnny Cade is a sixteen year old greaser; he comes from an abusive, alcoholic family which makes him very nervous and aware of his surroundings. He considers the greasers his true family and is with them most of the time. Johnny and Ponyboy share a special bond because of how much time they spend together, secrets they share and everything they go through together by the end of the novel. Johnny always defends Ponyboy, being the youngest, he his picked on by his older brothers. Johnny tells Ponyboy about his family and how scared he really is, he understands and promises to never leave his side. Their journey together has many obstacles. It consisted of killing a soc, hiding for weeks, saving little children and sadly Johnny dying in the end. Throughout this entire journey they learned more about each other and the bond they shared grew stronger. All the things they did for one another proved that their friendship was genuine and they truly did care. They struggled and fought together to stay alive in a cruel world with multiple challenges a day. All these examples justify that they are brothers not by blood but by heart. It is one of the strongest relationships described in the novel and touches the readers in a specific away because it can compare to friendships today. Johnny and Ponyboy are outsiders constantly looking in. Ponyboy is an outsider because he is the youngest and wishes he was as tough and strong as everyone else. Johnny is an outsider because he is jealous of the family bond between Pony and his brothers, he wishes his family was like that and he had a place he could call home. Over all Ponyboy and Johnny are the two outsiders that believe as long as they stick together they can make it through anything. This relationship S.E Hinton presented can relate to many readers and help them understand the struggles that are being portrayed in the novel. 

The Outsiders: symbolism ****

Symbolism, the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. S.E Hinton used a few symbols in her novel The Outsiders to represent abstract ideas. There are two symbols that stand out the most, cars and Two-Bit’s switchblade. Cars seem to represent the Socs’ strength, power and authority. They use their cars as protection unlike the greasers who are always on foot and the only protection they have are each other. Also, the socs flaunt their cars to the greasers to make them feel lowly about themselves. Considering the greasers work on cars, most likely know more about them and unfortunately have to work on the socs cars’ at some point. Lastly, the cars mostly represent the socs wealth and they believe having money makes them untouchable. The second symbol is Two-Bit’s switchblade. Two-Bit is the joking greaser who is a shoplifter and is always making nasty remarks towards the socs, causing most of the hatred between the two groups. His stolen switchblade has a sleek black handle and is the most valuable item he owns. All the greasers value the switchblade because it exemplifies the pride they have in being rule breakers and doing what they want. The switchblade to the greasers is like the cars to the socials. With the switchblade in possession, Two-Bit feels a sense of authority, power and strength and protected and prepared for anything. The symbolism is validated when the night of the rumble, the biggest battle between the socials and greasers, Dally is in the hospital and asked Two-Bit for his switchblade. Dally is going to use the switchblade to escape from the hospital and join his fellow greasers at the rumble fully equipped. Sadly when Two-Bit misplaces the switchblade it is confiscated by the police and Dally tragically dies. The symbolism is supported in this scene because it represents protection and when it is lost Dally dies. It shows that with the switchblade the greasers feel protected and without it they are lost and scared. The switchblade makes them feel safer and stronger; it’s a reliable source of protection when desperately needed.   

The Outsiders: theme

When I first read The Outsiders by S.E Hinton I did not fully understand the issues occurring. However, I saw the movie, loved it and had to read the book again. Instantly I understood the theme- connecting with the opposed. Throughout the novel, you learn about the two teenage groups, the Socials and the Greasers. The socials consist of rich young men and women who cherish their finer things. The greasers are poor hard workers whose lives are constant battles, whether they are dealing with money/food shortages, parents arguing or no place to call home. The groups have different opinions and values, which causes an on going rivalry that consists of fights, rude remarks and unfortunately death in each group. Both groups constantly obsess over their social standing because of how important they make it out to be. Growing up in that kind of environment makes you believe, the higher your social ranking the more power and respect you have. Automatically both groups become consumed with this fact and will do anything for that power.  Suddenly the rivalry comes to a standstill when Cherry Valance a soc, has an interest in a greaser named Ponyboy Curtis. They share the same opinion about the rivalry agreeing it is pointless and both have an interest in literature and sunsets. Over time both Ponyboy and Cherry realize that the groups have more in common than they think. In addition, they have the same mentality of sticking together and risking their lives for one another.  The connection shows there is not a huge difference between the groups and the root cause to it all is money. That is what Hinton is trying to express through her novel. That money should not mean anything, especially when it divides young adults into groups and causes agony. Cherry Valance and Phonyboy Curtis relationship shed light on this troubling time. No matter what social group you are in, everyone shares the same misfortunes. Both groups shared some attributes but could not set aside their differences to even notice. S.E Hinton wanted to make it clear to all readers that it does not matter if you are poor or wealthy, boy or girl, social or greaser everyone has conflicts and money is just an object.