One may become so close to bodily harm that the only way to protect their life is to kill the offender. The Outsiders is a book told from the perspective of a 14 year old boy named Ponyboy who lives with his two brothers, Sodapop and Darry, in a town in Oklahoma. They are part of a gang called the greasers who are known for their long, greased hair. Walking home alone is dangerous for a greaser because the rival gang, the Socs, could easily attack, or jump, someone. When a greaser gets jumped, the memory sticks with them and is hard to forget because of how petrifying it can be. The Socs, short for Socials, are rich kids who are from upper class families and own jewelry and drive around in expensive cars. Ponyboy and his friend Johnny were…show more content… First, Johnny is known as the "gang's pet . . . everyone's kid brother" (12) and when one thinks of a pet, one may think about love, affection, and loyalty. These words describe Johnny and a person with these characteristics shouldn't be seen as a person with evil intent. Ponyboy describes Johnny as a "little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times" (11). Someone who has been beaten verbally and physically doesn't normally become a killer, but more so becomes someone who is shy and jumpy. Also, Johnny shouldn't be looked at as a killer because when Dally gave Johnny his gun before they made their escape, Johnny didn't know what to do with the gun saying, "I couldn't shoot anybody." Johnny wouldn't shoot or harm someone unless he was in fear of his or his friend's life. Someone who is uncomfortable with holding a gun and the possibility that the gun could be used to shoot someone isn't someone who should be looked at as a boy who would kill someone just because he had harmed him earlier in his life. He never has the intent of killing someone and is "quiet, soft spoken little Johnny, who wouldn't hurt a living thing on purpose." (62). Lastly, Johnny also wouldn't kill a person unless it was for self defense because he was "the most law-abiding" (34) person in the gang. He is an innocent boy who comes from a physically and verbally abusive home and wouldn't harm someone unless he is threatened. He looks to gang members for affection because there isn't anywhere else that he could find it. Because Johnny was beaten up so severely in the past, he knew that if he didn't fight with a weapon this time, he would have probably been beaten up worse this time
