Ponyboy Curtis

Ponyboy Curtis is the main character and narrator of S. E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. In the film adaptation of this book, Ponyboy is played by C. Thomas Howell.

Character history
• Ponyboy Curtis: A fourteen year old boy who belongs to a gang of greasers. He hates his brother and sees him as a bully. Although he wants to be part of the gang, he doesn't always agree with their violent ways, he is also quiet and shy.
Darrel "Darry" Curtis, Jr. and Sodapop Patrick Curtis. He thinks that his older brother, Darry, "can't stand him" and thinks he is seeming "too bossy." Since their parents died, Darry has full responsibility of Soda and Ponyboy (his younger brothers). His best friend is Johnny Cade, a boy that resembles "a little dark puppy that has been kicked too many times and is lost in a crowd of strangers." Ponyboy and Soda can only stay with their brother Darry as long as they don't get in any trouble with the police.

He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma; and participates in the local social-club rivalries. He runs away with Johnny after an argument with Darry and is involved in the death of a "Soc", which is later ruled to have been self-defense on the part of Johnny. He is eventually re-united with his brothers and participates in the rumble alongside other members of the gang. Though a good fighter, he fights poorly in the rumble due to a blow to the head. Ponyboy gets hurt severely in the rumble. Dally takes Ponyboy to the hospital to visit Johnny and see how he is doing. Dally gets stopped by a police officer for speeding. He tells Ponyboy to "act sick", and be like cool and gangster and convinces the officer that Ponyboy fell off his motorcycle. The gullible police officer ends up escorting them to the hospital.

Ponyboy is present for the deaths of both Johnny and later, Dally. Ponyboy, having witnessed two deaths in a short period of time, is overwhelmed by these experiences. He goes to court and to his surprise, the judge doesn't ask him questions about the soc's murder, but instead asks him about how his home life and school. Later, as he is writing his essay, he finds a letter from Johnny. Ponyboy later makes a minor appearance in Hinton's novel That Was Then, This Is Now.

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See Also

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