Posted by Ted on October 17, 2010 at 20:35:26:
In Reply to: Book: S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" posted by Carrie Sanabria on October 17, 2010 at 15:05:21:
Ms. Hinton certainly changed the landscape of juvenile lit when at age 17 she published this novel (her first) about teenage reality on the streets of America, but the critics don't find much deeper meaning in her novels. The passage seems like fairly straightforward dialogue except maybe for what some might consider a POV mistake in the writing (if the first-person narrator "is too worried and scared to appreciate the fact that he was trying to be funny, who IS realizing it?)
: Hello, I am having trouble deciphering the deeper meaning from a passage from Hinton's "The Outsiders". If anyone can help me with this that would be amazing, discussion of the novel is also good. :)
: The passage: "Mrs. O'Briant and I think you were sent straight from heaven. Or are you just professional heroes or something?"
: Sent from heaven? Had he gotton a good look at Dallas? "No, we're greasers," I said. I was too worried and scared to appreciate the fact that he was trying to be funny.
: "You're what?"
: "Greasers. You know, like hoods, JD's. Johnny is wanted for murder, and Dallas has a record with the fuzz a mile long."
: "Are you kidding me?" Jerry stared at me as if he thought I was still in shock or something.
: "I am not. Take me to town and you'll find out pretty quick."
: Okay, so this passage comes after the scene where Pony Boy and Johnny rescued the children from the burning church. If someone has read this novel and feels they can help me out with a deeper interpretation of this passage that would be amazing :)