Posted by Kale on October 18, 2010 at 12:31:07:
In Reply to: Book: S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" posted by Carrie Sanabria on October 17, 2010 at 15:05:21:
If your teacher says there is a deeper meaning to the passage, he/she is probably finding meaning in the reference to the heroes being from heaven and them responding that they can't be from heaven because they are hoods. The deeper meaning lies in the fact that hoods are part of the down-to-earth reality of American teenagers, and that they see themselves as the opposite of the "heavenly" kids adults such as parents and teachers would approve of. The disparity between the approved values of adult society and the often comparatively hellish value systems of teenage society is a major theme of the novel.
: 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 :)