The Outsiders Chapter 1 Summary

• The Outsiders is narrated by the main character, Ponyboy Curtis.
• The setting for the story is Oklahoma during the 1960s.

Chapter 1

• Ponyboy introduces himself and his family history.
• The relationships among the gang members are described.
• Ponyboy's parents died in an automobile accident.
• Ponyboy lives with his two brothers after their parents died.
• Ponyboy is 14, Sodapop is 16, and Darry is 20 years old.
• The authorities allow the three brothers to stay together as long as they "behave".
• Ponyboy doesn't get along with Darry because Darry is hard-working, serious, and controlling.
• Ponyboy seeks understanding and love from Sodapop, who is happy and full of life.
• The brothers consider their gang members to be like family.

Gang Members

• Steve Randle: Sodapop's best friend
• Two-Bit Mathews: The funny one in the group
• Dallas Winston: The dangerous one who has been arrested
• Johnny Cade: The 'gang pet' with a tough home life who has been beaten badly by the Socs in the past

Conflict

• Ponyboy is jumped by a group of Socs while walking home from the movies.
• Ponyboy's gang arrives and rescues him from the Soc's attack.
• Ponyboy sustains cuts and bruises.
• Greasers are considered "all the boys on the East Side," the term represents the poor side of town.
• Socs (Socials) are "the West-side rich kids."
• The gangs dislike each other because of their different social classes (rich vs. poor).

Chapter 2

• Ponyboy and Johnny meet up with Dally (Dallas, the dangerous one).
• They go to the Nightly Double drive-in theater.
• They meet two Socs: Cherry Valance and Marcia.
• Cherry and Marcia left their boyfriends because the boys wanted to drink.
• Dally is rude to the two girls, so Cherry throws her soda at Dally.
• Johnny tells Dally to leave the girls alone.
• Ponyboy is shocked that Johnny stood up to Dally.
• Two-Bit arrives, and the the boys join Cherry and Marcia.

Johnny's Backstory

• Ponyboy tells Cherry the story of the Socs beating Johnny.
• Four months prior, Johnny was beaten by four Socs who drove a blue Mustang.
• Johnny never walked alone after that incident.
• Johnny vowed to kill the next person who jumped him.
• Cherry tells Ponyboy that not all Socs are bad, just as not all greasers are like Dally.
• Socs also have their troubles.
• Everyone, rich or poor, has difficulties.