The Outsiders, a novel written by author SE Hinton, is a beautifully woven story of choices, love, and the entanglements of unlikely characters. On the dark side of Oklahoma, gang fights, money (or lack thereof), and family life are just a few examples of difficulties that can constantly be on any greaser's mind. There's also the golden side, with wealthy socialites who jump from greasers in their spare time and seem to have their lives planned out for them, but greasers and Socs are more similar than they might think. Difficulties have no boundaries, no matter how much money or reputation you have. The story is told from the point of view of Ponyboy Curtis, a fourteen-year-old with two brothers, Soda Pop and Darry. His parents were killed in a car accident a long time ago, so now the neighborhood gang and his brothers are his only family. After a heated argument with Darry that ends with Ponyboy getting shot, he runs away with his friend Johnny. A couple of Socs jump the two boys and Johnny ends up killing one of them because Ponyboy is about to drown. Fearing they will be caught and thrown in prison, they escape to an abandoned church with the help of another gang member, Dally. In the end, the two boys end up saving some children and becoming heroes, but Johnny ends up dying. Due to Johnny's death, Dally commits suicide and the entire gang is shattered. Eventually all the kids get over it, but the memories still remind them of all the difficulties they overcame. Love affairs are a difficulty for everyone: greasers, Socs and every other non-recluse person in the world. Many people deal with love; it's something you can't hide from, really. Love doesn't have to be romantic or sappy because family relationships, or lack thereof, can... halfway... Johnny like a brother. This love is what drives him to kill himself. The problem with death, killing and loss is that they are all the roots of chain reactions. Due to Johnny's death, Dally kills himself and as Ponyboy loses two of his greatest friends, he shuts down and begins to shut down the world. He does this because he believes that if he can keep everyone else out, he can keep out that voice that tells him “Dally and Johnny are dead, Pony. You'll never get them back." Peer pressure is also a serious problem in both social groups. It's fine if you agree with what people say, but shaping your responses to fit what everyone else thinks is not the right thing to do. You might think that they are becoming the correct image, but in reality they are simply molding themselves to become another identical aspirant. At one point in The Outsiders, Randy, a Soc who was friends with Bob