Nature’s​ ​First​ ​Green​ ​is​ ​Gold 

What​ ​if​ ​everything​ ​you​ ​thought​ ​you​ ​know​ ​was​ ​wrong.​ ​You​ ​might​ ​think​ ​this​ ​ink​ ​is
black,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​gold.​ ​The​ ​Outsiders​ ​was​ ​written​ ​by​ ​S.​ ​E.​ ​Hinton​ ​and​ ​was​ ​published​ ​in
1967.​ ​ ​The​ ​story​ ​is​ ​about​ ​a​ ​14-year-old​ ​boy​ ​named​ ​Ponyboy.​ ​Ponyboy​ ​Curtis​ ​and​ ​his​ ​brothers
live​ ​in​ ​an​ ​area​ ​where​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​separation​ ​between​ ​social​ ​classes;​ ​greasers​ ​and​ ​socials,​ ​where
jumping​ ​and​ ​rumble​ ​are​ ​a​ ​usual​ ​event,​ ​even​ ​a​ ​16-year​ ​old​ ​carries​ ​a​ ​pocket​ ​knife.​ ​The
youngest​ ​member,​ ​Ponyboy,​ ​is​ ​different​ ​than​ ​other​ ​greasers,​ ​he​ ​has​ ​extraordinarily​ ​interests.
He​ ​is​ ​academically​ ​accomplished,​ ​he​ ​favors​ ​literature,​ ​and​ ​he​ ​is​ ​genuinely​ ​observant.​ ​One
night​ ​at​ ​a​ ​movie​ ​theater,​ ​he​ ​was​ ​making​ ​a​ ​social​ ​friend,​ ​Cherry​ ​Valance.​ ​After​ ​this​ ​particular
event​ ​was​ ​seen​ ​by​ ​her​ ​boyfriend,​ ​Bob​ ​Sheldon,​ ​Ponyboy​ ​and​ ​his​ ​best​ ​friend,​ ​Johnny​ ​Cade,
got​ ​attacked​ ​by​ ​the​ ​socials.​ ​Johnny​ ​killed​ ​Bob​ ​and​ ​they​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​run​ ​away​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as
possible​ ​with​ ​the​ ​help​ ​of​ ​Dallas​ ​Winston,​ ​the​ ​story​ ​continues​ ​with​ ​bitterness​ ​and​ ​heroism.
Ponyboy’s​ ​aspect​ ​about​ ​each​ ​character​ ​differs​ ​through​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​book.​ ​S.​ ​E.​ ​Hinton
utilizes​ ​many​ ​perspectives​ ​to​ ​show​ ​that​ ​seeing​ ​gold​ ​in​ ​others​ ​by​ ​overlooking​ ​their​ ​differences
gives​ ​one​ ​the​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​experience​ ​their​ ​other​ ​side.

The​ ​socials​ ​and​ ​greasers​ ​are​ ​enemies,​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​socials​ ​identify​ ​greasers​ ​as​ ​trash,
even​ ​though​ ​they​ ​have​ ​never​ ​known​ ​how​ ​brave,​ ​admiring,​ ​and​ ​strong​ ​a​ ​greaser​ ​family​ ​is.
Most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​socials​ ​and​ ​greasers​ ​cannot​ ​stand​ ​each​ ​other,​ ​they​ ​always​ ​jump​ ​on​ ​each​ ​other​ ​as
pride.​ ​They​ ​assume​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​too​ ​different​ ​that​ ​they​ ​could​ ​not​ ​unite​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​peaceful
community.​ ​However,​ ​a​ ​social​ ​is​ ​distinctive​ ​to​ ​the​ ​clan,​ ​she​ ​is​ ​the​ ​dawn​ ​in​ ​the​ ​daytime​ ​and​ ​is
thoughtful​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​through​ ​the​ ​differences​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two​ ​gangs.​ ​Commonly,​ ​the
socials​ ​have​ ​only​ ​seen​ ​the​ ​tough​ ​side​ ​of​ ​greasers,​ ​not​ ​their​ ​loving​ ​and​ ​caring​ ​sides,​ ​not​ ​how
they​ ​could​ ​risk​ ​their​ ​lives​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​their​ ​meaningful​ ​friends​ ​that​ ​had​ ​become​ ​family.​ ​The
wealthy​ ​Socials​ ​live​ ​on​ ​the​ ​west​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​town,​ ​while​ ​the​ ​greasers​ ​live​ ​in​ ​the​ ​east.​ ​The
different​ ​economics​ ​influences​ ​them​ ​to​ ​be​ ​different​ ​including​ ​their​ ​behaviors​ ​and​ ​their
lifestyles.​ ​Because​ ​of​ ​these​ ​contrasting​ ​characteristics,​ ​it​ ​causes​ ​conflict​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two
groups.​ ​Both​ ​groups​ ​hate​ ​each​ ​other​ ​and​ ​like​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​up​ ​fights.​ ​“‘You​ ​know​ ​what​ ​a​ ​greaser
is?’​ ​Bob​ ​asked.​ ​‘White​ ​trash​ ​with​ ​long​ ​hair.’”​ ​(pg.55).​ ​The​ ​socials​ ​do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​any​ ​feeling
toward​ ​the​ ​greasers​ ​other​ ​than​ ​hatred.​ ​They​ ​think​ ​of​ ​them​ ​as​ ​invaluable​ ​rubbish.​ ​Despite​ ​all
the​ ​conflicts,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​social​ ​that​ ​adept​ ​to​ ​accept​ ​the​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two​ ​social
groups​ ​and​ ​really​ ​try​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​and​ ​reach​ ​for​ ​who​ ​they​ ​really​ ​are.​ ​“I​ ​could​ ​just​ ​tell.​ ​I’ll​ ​bet
you​ ​watch​ ​sunsets,​ ​too”​ ​Cherry​ ​said​ ​to​ ​Ponyboy.​ ​(pg.​ ​40).​ ​Formerly,​ ​Cherry​ ​knows​ ​that
Ponyboy​ ​is​ ​a​ ​greaser,​ ​but​ ​still​ ​reaches​ ​out​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​know​ ​him.​ ​Both​ ​Ponyboy​ ​and​ ​Cherry
watch​ ​sunsets,​ ​unlike​ ​others​ ​they​ ​remain​ ​their​ ​innocence.​ ​They​ ​are​ ​both​ ​has​ ​the​ ​thoughts​ ​that
they​ ​could​ ​see​ ​sunsets​ ​from​ ​both​ ​sides​ ​and​ ​maybe​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not​ ​so​ ​different.​ ​Between​ ​the​ ​two
groups,​ ​only​ ​hatred​ ​was​ ​shown​ ​from​ ​both​ ​sides.​ ​The​ ​socials​ ​have​ ​never​ ​seen​ ​the​ ​warm​ ​sides
of​ ​the​ ​greasers.​ ​To​ ​illustrate,​ ​Dally​ ​is​ ​the​ ​coldest​ ​member​ ​in​ ​greaser​ ​with​ ​his​ ​blue​ ​and​ ​blazing
ice​ ​personality,​ ​but​ ​breaking​ ​through​ ​those​ ​intimidating​ ​barriers​ ​you​ ​could​ ​see​ ​that​ ​he​ ​really
love​ ​his​ ​peers.​ ​He​ ​risks​ ​being​ ​in​ ​jail​ ​and​ ​his​ ​life​ ​for​ ​Johnny​ ​and​ ​Ponyboy.​ ​“...He​ ​burned​ ​one
arm​ ​pretty​ ​badly,​ ​though,​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​drag​ ​the​ ​other​ ​kid​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​window...​ ​”​ ​Jerry​ ​said.​ ​(pg.
95).​ ​Dally​ ​risks​ ​his​ ​life​ ​to​ ​save​ ​Johnny​ ​from​ ​the​ ​burning​ ​church.​ ​This​ ​shows​ ​that​ ​he​ ​truly​ ​love
and​ ​care​ ​for​ ​Johnny​ ​even​ ​though​ ​he​ ​seems​ ​bitter.​ ​People’s​ ​minds​ ​are​ ​manipulated​ ​by​ ​their
hostility,​ ​which​ ​prevents​ ​them​ ​from​ ​knowing​ ​that​ ​the​ ​people​ ​that​ ​they​ ​see​ ​could​ ​be​ ​various.

Not​ ​just​ ​the​ ​socials​ ​do​ ​not​ ​know​ ​the​ ​greasers,​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​greasers​ ​also​ ​do​ ​not​ ​know
the​ ​socials​ ​too,​ ​that​ ​there​ ​is​ ​more​ ​likeness​ ​than​ ​they​ ​thought.​ ​Greasers​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​stick​ ​together
heeding​ ​for​ ​an​ ​upcoming​ ​intrusion​ ​from​ ​the​ ​socials,​ ​they​ ​frequently​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​them​ ​in​ ​an
awful​ ​way.​ ​They​ ​have​ ​never​ ​noticed​ ​that​ ​the​ ​socials​ ​could​ ​be​ ​more​ ​alike​ ​than​ ​they​ ​thought,
how​ ​socials​ ​maybe​ ​love​ ​and​ ​admire​ ​each​ ​other​ ​like​ ​they​ ​do.​ ​The​ ​ginormous​ ​differences
between​ ​the​ ​two​ ​is​ ​economics,​ ​which​ ​influences​ ​their​ ​lives​ ​to​ ​in​ ​different​ ​directions.​ ​“It​ ​ain’t
fair​ ​we​ ​have​ ​all​ ​rough​ ​breaks!”​ ​said​ ​Ponyboy.​ ​(pg.​ ​43).​ ​Greasers​ ​claimed​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​unfair​ ​for
the​ ​socials​ ​to​ ​have​ ​such​ ​as​ ​easy​ ​lives​ ​and​ ​theirs​ ​to​ ​be​ ​rough.​ ​For​ ​instance,​ ​Darry​ ​has​ ​to​ ​work
when​ ​he​ ​is​ ​still​ ​young​ ​and​ ​could​ ​not​ ​go​ ​to​ ​college​ ​like​ ​he​ ​dreamed.​ ​Greasers​ ​feel​ ​hate​ ​and
unfairness​ ​toward​ ​them​ ​and​ ​are​ ​not​ ​able​ ​to​ ​see​ ​their​ ​similarities​ ​to​ ​work​ ​together.​ ​Passing​ ​all
the​ ​differences​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two​ ​societies,​ ​deep​ ​through​ ​both​ ​two​ ​gangs​ ​could​ ​be​ ​quite
similar.​ ​One​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​socials​ ​could​ ​represent​ ​another​ ​person​ ​in​ ​greaser,​ ​like​ ​the​ ​same
characteristic,​ ​but​ ​a​ ​different​ ​version.​ ​“Yeah,​ ​he​ ​was​ ​good-looking​ ​even​ ​then,​ ​with​ ​a​ ​grin​ ​that
reminded​ ​me​ ​of​ ​Soda’s,​ ​a​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​reckless​ ​grin.”​ ​(pg.161).​ ​If​ ​looking​ ​attentively,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​not
much​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two​ ​groups.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​Bob​ ​could​ ​have​ ​been​ ​like​ ​Soda,​ ​the
most​ ​deering​ ​and​ ​charming​ ​person​ ​for​ ​Ponyboy​ ​and​ ​the​ ​other​ ​boys.​ ​Ponyboy​ ​is​ ​starting​ ​to
look​ ​at​ ​Bob​ ​and​ ​how​ ​he​ ​was,​ ​he​ ​kept​ ​wondering​ ​how​ ​Bob​ ​was​ ​and​ ​why​ ​many​ ​people
consider​ ​him​ ​as​ ​a​ ​different​ ​person​ ​than​ ​he​ ​thought.​ ​Just​ ​the​ ​start​ ​of​ ​a​ ​thoughtful​ ​statement
could​ ​change​ ​one’s​ ​perspective​ ​and​ ​have​ ​a​ ​better​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​how​ ​that​ ​person​ ​may​ ​be​ ​if
the​ ​gangs​ ​could​ ​see​ ​this​ ​leaving​ ​their​ ​hatred​ ​behind,​ ​maybe​ ​there​ ​would​ ​not​ ​be​ ​the​ ​socials​ ​and
the​ ​greasers.

Ponyboy​ ​is​ ​still​ ​staying​ ​in​ ​the​ ​gold​ ​stage,​ ​he​ ​is​ ​still​ ​youthful​ ​and​ ​innocent,​ ​these
characteristics​ ​convey​ ​him​ ​the​ ​qualification​ ​to​ ​look​ ​through​ ​people’s​ ​fictitious​ ​surface​ ​and
understand​ ​how​ ​they​ ​really​ ​are.​ ​Ponyboy​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​different​ ​to​ ​the​ ​other​ ​group​ ​members,​ ​he
still​ ​has​ ​a​ ​“special​ ​element”​ ​in​ ​him.​ ​He​ ​watches​ ​the​ ​sunsets​ ​and​ ​said​ ​to​ ​considerate​ ​by​ ​“using
his​ ​head”.​ ​He​ ​likes​ ​writing​ ​and​ ​poetry.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​the​ ​talent​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​people,​ ​both​ ​whom​ ​he
hates​ ​and​ ​love​ ​using​ ​his​ ​special​ ​element.​ ​Even​ ​when​ ​his​ ​best​ ​friend​ ​dies,​ ​his​ ​gold​ ​shade​ ​still
has​ ​not​ ​faded.​ ​Behind​ ​all​ ​the​ ​anger​ ​and​ ​differences​ ​that​ ​the​ ​socials​ ​emphasized​ ​to​ ​him,
Ponyboy​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​step​ ​through​ ​and​ ​able​ ​to​ ​fathom​ ​how​ ​fundamentally​ ​a​ ​social​ ​could​ ​be.
“Stay​ ​Gold​ ​Ponyboy,​ ​Stay​ ​Gold,”​ ​said​ ​Johnny.(pg.148).​ ​Johnny​ ​is​ ​telling​ ​Ponyboy​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​on
to​ ​the​ ​good​ ​things,​ ​good​ ​choices,​ ​good​ ​perspectives;​ ​his​ ​youth​ ​and​ ​innocence.​ ​His​ ​gold​ ​could
be​ ​faded​ ​easily​ ​in​ ​the​ ​environment​ ​that​ ​he​ ​stays​ ​in,​ ​but​ ​Johnny​ ​wants​ ​him​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​on​ ​to​ ​this
stage​ ​of​ ​his​ ​life.​ ​ ​Toward​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​book,​ ​he​ ​understands​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​about​ ​the
socials​ ​and​ ​how​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not​ ​as​ ​bad​ ​as​ ​their​ ​title.​ ​“He​ ​is​ ​just​ ​a​ ​guy.​ ​He​ ​just​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​talk.”
(pg.118).​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​after​ ​Johnny’s​ ​death,​ ​Ponyboy​ ​is​ ​angry​ ​and​ ​sorrow,​ ​he​ ​is​ ​still
open-minded​ ​and​ ​let​ ​Randy​ ​has​ ​a​ ​conversation​ ​with​ ​him.​ ​Something​ ​that​ ​Ponyboy​ ​has​ ​that​ ​is
uncommon​ ​in​ ​his​ ​gang​ ​is​ ​his​ ​likeness​ ​of​ ​watching​ ​sunsets.​ ​Watching​ ​sunsets​ ​illustrates​ ​his
innocence​ ​and​ ​youthful​ ​qualities.​ ​“It’s​ ​okay…​ ​We​ ​aren’t​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​class.​ ​Just​ ​don’t​ ​forget
that​ ​some​ ​of​ ​us​ ​watch​ ​the​ ​sunset​ ​too.”​ ​(pg.41).​ ​Though​ ​the​ ​Socials​ ​and​ ​Greasers​ ​are​ ​different
in​ ​many​ ​ways;​ ​financial​ ​situations,​ ​attitudes,​ ​lifestyles,​ ​Ponyboy​ ​was​ ​able​ ​to​ ​look​ ​through​ ​and
see​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not​ ​entirely​ ​different.​ ​After​ ​all,​ ​they​ ​still​ ​live​ ​under​ ​the​ ​same​ ​Sun.​ ​Because​ ​of
Ponyboy’s​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​gold,​ ​it​ ​differentiates​ ​him​ ​from​ ​others​ ​and​ ​made​ ​him​ ​understand​ ​that
people​ ​might​ ​not​ ​be​ ​so​ ​bad​ ​from​ ​a​ ​different​ ​angle.

In​ ​conclusion,​ ​both​ ​greasers​ ​and​ ​socials​ ​could​ ​not​ ​look​ ​or​ ​experience​ ​others​ ​fully
because​ ​they​ ​are​ ​blocked​ ​by​ ​their​ ​difference​ ​and​ ​hatred.​ ​The​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​really​ ​see​ ​others​ ​will
come​ ​when​ ​you​ ​passed​ ​the​ ​difference​ ​and​ ​become​ ​open-minded,​ ​which​ ​only​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the
members​ ​from​ ​both​ ​sides​ ​could​ ​maintain.​ ​Both​ ​greasers​ ​and​ ​socials​ ​should​ ​master​ ​to​ ​cope
with​ ​others​ ​peacefully​ ​and​ ​ignore​ ​their​ ​peculiarities,​ ​perhaps​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not​ ​majorly​ ​contrasting.
Ponyboy​ ​knows​ ​how​ ​to​ ​see​ ​others​ ​without​ ​any​ ​barriers​ ​that​ ​prevent​ ​him​ ​from​ ​thinking​ ​about
them​ ​critically​ ​and​ ​that​ ​is​ ​how​ ​he​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​look​ ​at​ ​everyone​ ​passionately.

By:​ ​Kanokpon​ ​Nagavajara