The Outsiders Q&A

Ponyboy seems to believe that Darry sees him as a burden and an extra mouth to feed since Darry has had to work two jobs to support the household. Darry often yells at Ponyboy for not being more careful like the time he walks home alone from the movie theatre, and falls asleep in an empty lot while watching the stars. All his friends attempt to tell him that Darry loves him, and does not see him as a burden. This has little effect on his opinion, but after he returns from the accidental fire at the church, Ponyboy begins to understand that Darry’s scolding comes from a place of love rather than hate.

Ponyboy’s meeting with Cherry leads him on the path of realizing that all classes of people have similar struggles and joys even though the nature of their problems may be different. The sunsets are a symbol of this sameness, as Ponyboy realizes that both he and Cherry seek the same joy in watching sunsets.

Cherry and Marcia can be heard complaining about their boyfriends’ excessive drinking before the Greasers talk to the girls. Interestingly, the Socs are visibly quite drunk when they come to accost Johnny and Ponyboy.

Randy decides that violence is not going to help him feel any better about Bob’s death, and perhaps he realizes that the Greasers did not truly deserve the blame for his death. He also expresses his regret that he had caused his father to be disappointed in him, and perhaps that is the reason why he chooses to forgo any more involvement in delinquent behavior.