Chapter 2NOTES

1960s culture

Dally steals two packages of Kools from the drugstore. Kools were a popular brand of cigarettes in the 1960s. Typical greaser behavior

Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally go to the The Dingo, a drive-in movie theatre. Drive-in theatres were very popular in the 1950s and 1960s, especially for teenagers. Drive-ins were a hang out spot, and perfect for dates. Today, they are quite rare. Like many things in town, the drive-ins are usually

segregated between Socs and greasers

More about Dally…

Has money to get into The Dingo, but sneaks in instead

Ponyboy says, “Dally hated to do things the legal way. He liked to show that he didn’t care whether there was a law or not. He went around trying to break laws.”

Rebellious

Reckless

Dangerous

Wild

Behaves inappropriately with the girls, Cherry and Marcia

Ponyboy shows his independence and his “difference” when he disapproves of Dally’s behavior

Cherry Valance

Ponyboy says Cherry and Marcia “weren’t our kind” (Socs)

Emphasizes Cherry’s attractiveness several times; is intimidated by her

Cherry stands up to Dally

Brave, independent, sassy

She strikes up an easy, genuine conversation with Ponyboy and Johnny

Demonstrates her open-mindedness; takes a risk by socializing with them

Does not treat them differently because they are greasers; is willing to get to know people rather than relying on stereotypes

Compliments Ponyboy’s name rather than judging it

Pony’s sensitivity and proven intelligence appeal to Cherry; it sets him apart from most greasers

Cherry sees Pony and Johnny for what they say and do, not for the social class they come from

Cherry and Marcia’s boyfriends brought alcohol to the drive-in and then left them there

Goes to show that the Socs are not better people than the greasers

When Dally is away, it seems like Cherry (and Marcia) could be friends with Ponyboy and Johnny

But as soon as Dally returns, all Cherry can see in him are typical greaser qualities

Interestingly enough, at one point Cherry says, “I kind of admire him.”

Seems ironic considering her previous interaction with him

What might she mean?

Labels

Ponyboy says, “I had heard the same tone a million times: “Greaser . . . greaser . . . greaser.”” He is bothered by the labels placed on him and his friends

He is able to see past labels and wishes others could too

Ponyboy does not like to call Sodapop a “dropout” Makes Soda seem like a dumb hoodlum

Pony sees beyond this label; Soda has lots of potential that he is not living up to

The gang = family

When Cherry calls Dally trash, Ponyboy gets defensive: “I’m a grease, same as Dally. He’s my buddy.”

When Cherry calls Dally dirty, Johnny says defensively, “Dally’s okay.”

Pony also narrates, “You take up for your buddies, no matter what they do. When you’re a gang, you stick up for the members.”

None of the greasers in Ponyboy’s gang have solid family backgrounds The greasers are each other’s family; they stick together, defend each

other

Like a code of honor

Dally and Johnny

Dally crosses the line with Cherry when he tries to put his arm around her. Johnny stops him.

A very surprising action on Johnny’s part (uncharacteristic of him)

Also, Dally’s response is quite uncharacteristic of him

Doesn’t say or do anything to Johnny (would resort to violence with anyone else)

The bond between Dally and Johnny is the strongest of all the greasers

Johnny is Dally’s pet; Dally is Johnny’s hero

Dally can’t show kindness himself, but he is affected by the kindness Johnny shows the girls (has a soft spot for him)

His reaction to the Socs’ attack on Johnny (sick expression) reveals the love he has for Johnny, as well as his desire to protect him

Fighting fair

Two-Bit announces that Tim Shepard is looking for Dally (Dally supposedly slashed his tires)

He explains the concept of a fair fight to Cherry and Marcia

No blades, no chains, no heaters, no pool sticks

Few punches thrown

Clear code of conduct

Greasers stick together, and when they do fight, it’s a fair fight between two

No grudges are held; will have each other’s backs when needed

Socs fight rough

Gang up on one or two greasers

Johnny’s attack

Johnny seems to suffer from post-traumatic stress; physical wounds have healed but his terror is still there

When Two-Bit pretends to be a Soc: Turns white, gasps

The Socs’ recent attack has deeply scarred him

The author uses flashback to tell the story of Johnny’s attack When the author refers to an earlier moment in time, usually told through a character’s reminiscing

A very brutal experience; cruel

Illustrates the destructive and senseless nature of the Socs

Johnny was always high-strung (a nervous wreck) because his volatile home environment made him so, but the Socs’ attack made him jumpier than ever

He is not over it

Carries a switchblade at all times (will prove to be important in later chapters)

Perspective

Cherry assures Ponyboy that not all Socs are like the ones who attacked Johnny. Pony is doubtful.

Cherry persists. She points out that not all greasers are like Dally, and Pony has to agree.

Cherry presents Ponyboy with a new perspective

He thinks the Socs have a perfect life – looks, family, money, cars

She states that Socs have problems too; their lives might appear perfect from the outside, but that is not the case

“Things are rough all over.” It isn’t only greasers that face difficulties.

Pony doesn’t understand what she means – will become clearer to him later

Cherry’s role here is to help Pony see people as individuals, regardless of the group they come from

She is drawing a similarity between the Socs and greasers – as individuals, they all have problems

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing…hints or clues to suggest something that will happen later in the text

Two pieces of foreshadowing in Chapter 2:

When speaking of Johnny’s reaction to the Socs’ attack, Ponyboy says, “Johnny . . . now carried in his back pocket a six-inch switchblade. He’d use it, too, if he ever got jumped again . . . He would kill the next person who jumped him. Nobody was ever going to beat him like that again. Not over his dead body. . .”

Ponyboy does not understand Cherry’s perspective when she says, “Things are rough all over.” He narrates:

“I really couldn’t see what Socs have to sweat about – good grades, good cars, good girls, madras and Mustangs and Corvairs – Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I’d consider myself lucky.

I know better now.”

Predictions??? What is being foreshadowed???

Retrospective narrative

The final sentence of the chapter (“I know better now”) indicates to the reader that Ponyboy’s narration is retrospective.

He is telling about the events and situations in the past tense – they have already occurred

He is looking back on them with a new understanding; what he didn’t understand then, he understands now

Shows readers that Pony has undergone personal growth; we must read on to find out how and why his perspective has changed

Perhaps he will come to see the Socs in a different light?

Slang Words

The fuzz = the police

A weed = cigarette

Heater = gun