A carefree, easy going life would be so great. People wouldn't have to worry about school, peer pressure, or anything else. People all over the world wouldn't have to worry over losses or trying to fit into a group. This novel, The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, is about a group of young men called Greasers, who struggle amongst themselves and other groups, too. They aren't very rich, many don't have loving families, and they're also very different from each other. Adapting to life, for tough and softer Greasers may mean sacrificing their humanity and getting tough.
Adapting to life for tough Greasers may mean sacrificing their humanity and getting tough. Dally, one of the book's characters, advises Ponyboy, the book's main character, to wise up and get tough so that nothing can touch him. This shows that Dally has already become tough over time, and has found it useful enough for himself, to advise it to his peers. Some Greasers seem to get tough because of where they have been in their lives. “Dally has spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested at the age of ten. He was tougher than the rest of us- tougher, colder, meaner.” Pg.10. Dally really became tough because of the life he lived in New York, and has been tough and mean ever since. This proves that even tough Greasers probably became tough as they tried to adapt to major life events. Hard Greasers have been hardened badly, just as softer Greasers can be affected by whatever life has to offer.
Adapting to life for softer Greasers may mean sacrificing their humanity and getting tough. In this book the Curtis boys, three brothers in the book, lost their parents at an early age and had to adapt to a tough lifestyle. Because the Curtis boys were very young and vulnerable, they must have had a hard time staying out of trouble, and could have easily been persuaded to do bad things to themselves and others. Ponyboy had to make the hard decision of weather to become tough or to keep his dignity. “He snatched up an empty bottle, busted off the end and gave it to me… "I couldn"t use this,' I said dropping the pop bottle.” Pg. 45. This shows that Ponyboy has remained mentally strong, but has had to adapt to hanging out with tougher people. This gives evidence to support that even softer Greasers have to adapt to life and get at least somewhat tougher. When tragedies and other life changing events occur, even soft Greasers can be greatly affected.
Learning to adapt to life for tough and soft Greasers may mean changing your life and becoming tough. Greasers have to deal with loss, personal differences, different groups, and adapting to new environments. They have to learn how to make decisions that deal with their survival in the cruel world around them. I've noticed through myself and others, that when dramatic changes occur in people's lives, it can be hard to fit in unless you change and sometimes even become tougher. Life can be hard for everyone, Greasers included, but people always manage to make it through.
