When they realize that they are running from the law, Johnny cuts and bleaches Ponyboy’s hair in an effort to blend in and disguise his appearance. Ponyboy in turn cuts Johnny’s hair. Ponyboy loves his family and community. His long hair was
his pride and joy
.
Why is Ponyboy’s hair so important to him?
Ponyboy’s hair is so important to him
because his hair is his identity
. To cut his hair would imply that he no longer belongs in his Greaser group. … The way he wears his hair sets him apart from the rest of the town, especially the Socs, and affiliates him with his gang, the Greasers.
Why does ponyboy wear his hair long?
Ponyboy and Johnny are greasers, a class term that refers to the young men on the poor, East side of town. They and their friends feel like real outsiders with their greased, long hair and rough appearance. His
long hair was his pride and joy
.
Why did Ponyboy not cut his hair?
Ponyboy takes pride in his long, silky hair because it is what distinguishes him as a greaser. … He tells Johnny he doesn’t want to cut his hair
because it took him a long time to grow it just the way he wanted it
. He is very proud of his long hair and he doesn’t want to change it in any way.
What does long hair symbolize in the outsiders?
The greasers’ long, slick hair is
a symbol of their gang, both to themselves and to others
. When Ponyboy and Johnny cut and dye their hair while in hiding they’re taking a symbolic step outside the gang. As a result, Ponyboy feels less secure, but also gains a bit of room in which to develop his individuality.
Is Johnny a greaser?
Johnny Cade is
a vulnerable sixteen-year-old greaser
in a group defined by toughness and a sense of invincibility. He comes from an abusive home, and he takes to the greasers because they are his only reliable family.
Who does Ponyboy think started the fire?
Ponyboy thinks he
and Johnny
must have started the fire with a cigarette butt, so the boys jump out of the car to examine the blaze.
Why was Darry crying at the hospital?
It isn’t until Pony sees Darry crying that the
love
for his brother triggers a moment of enlightenment: “In that second what Soda and Dally and Two-Bit had been trying to tell me came through.” Now Pony understands that Darry had been trying too hard in his new role of guardian and protector.
Why is Ponyboy famous now?
He assumed that Dally would be the one the would turn to to help them out, so he gave Dally the letter to give to Pony. Why is Pony famous now?
His picture is in the paper because of the stabbing.
Why can’t Ponyboy eat bologna?
Everything tasted like baloney. The bad taste of baloney still sticks with Pony, and it symbolizes the depression that has overwhelmed him and
his refusal to get along with his own life and responsibilities
after his friends’ tragic deaths.
Why is Ponyboy so miserable?
Ponyboy seems to suffer from
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
because he becomes callous, unfocused, and violent. Ponyboy tries to imagine that Johnny is still alive and attempts to suppress his painful feelings. He loses interests in school and begins to fail classes.
What does Ponyboy hide about himself?
They ran to Jay Mountain and hid in an old church. To disguise themselves
they cut and washed their hair
. Ponyboy dyed his blond. Johnny says he would dye his also but it was so dark the dye wouldn’t take.
What color was Johnny’s hair?
Johnny wants to cut and dye Pony’s hair so they wouldn’t fit the descriptions in the newpapers. Pony immediately realizes this upon seeing the peroxide – he refuses, saying that it took him a while to get it the way he liked it. After some convincing, Johnny cuts Pony’s hair and dyes it
blonde
.
How did greasers do their hair?
Greasers wore hairstyles such as the
pompadour
, ducktail or waterfall. A pompadour is when the hair is brushed high off of the forehead and styled with pomade. A ducktail, also referred to as a duck’s butt, is when hair on each side of the back of the head is combed back and held in place with a greasy substance.
Did the SOCS threaten to cut off Ponyboy’s hair?
The Socs threat to cut his hair is
a direct challenge to Ponyboy’s basic identity
, and thus is a very serious threat indeed. They are saying to him that without his “look”, he is nothing, and Ponyboy is afraid of losing his identity.
How did the SOCS do their hair?
They often
wear their hair slicked back with grease and sometimes sport long sideburns
. They dress in jeans and T-shirts and let their shirttails hang out of their pants without tucking them in. … The Socs are the wealthier kids who wear their hair shorter and sport madras shirts or ski jackets.
