The Outsiders Choices Quotes

Soda has a point – Pony seems to be in an impossible situation in which every choice he makes is a wrong one. Whenever a powerful group is actively persecuting another less powerful group, you will find such dilemmas.

Cherry has decided to keep alcohol out of her life, even if it means going to the movies without her boyfriend. Later in the novel, she blames alcohol for Bob's violence. Do you think she's right?

If Pony had chosen not to provoke the Socs with his words, could the tragedy have been avoided? It's hard to say. Likely, nothing Pony could have said would've stopped these guys. After all, they were already angry that Johnny and Pony were with Marcia and Cherry earlier that day.

Before the fire, Johnny makes the brave decision to turn himself in. The fact that he takes the needs of Pony, Darry, and Soda into account in his decision shows how what a thoughtful person he's growing into.

We don't know for sure if Pony and Johnny's cigarettes started the fire, but it's obvious that this fear helps push Pony to save the kids. We suspect he would have done so anyway, though.

Like Cherry, Pony is making the decision to stay away from alcohol. He really doesn't like seeing Two-Bit drinking to prepare for the rumble. Still, Pony might be assuming some things – Two-Bit's reasons for drinking are probably complicated.

Pony and Darry learn what a terrible position they're putting Soda in, always asking him to choose between them. We can dominate people by the choices we ask them to make. If the choices aren't fair, somebody will get hurt.

Instead of blindly thrashing out at each other, Darry and Pony make a conscious decision not to fight. They are motivated by Soda's needs, but the choice will ultimately benefit all of them.