Curly About Ponyboy:

Curly about Ponyboy:

YOU GET IT.

The fact that Ponyboy dislikes people with green eyes even though he himself has green eyes is a direct representation of his low self-esteem. In this essay, I will-

The fact that Ponyboy dislikes people with green eyes even though he himself has green eyes is a direct representation of his low self-esteem. In this essay, I will-

PREACH BITCH PREEEAAAACCCCHHHHH

Ponyboy’s a kid with something to prove. Prove he can handle himself, prove he’s strong, prove that he’s just another human being. He’s the youngest of the gang, he’s the kid brother of Darry and Sodapop- for a while he thought that was why everyone tolerated him. And while he is watched out for because of his age and can be a tag-along he thinks he’s looked upon much more differently than he really is, at least amongst the gang.

The youngest always tries to seem older, latching on, copying behavior, following around. He wants to be seen as more than just the kid. Ponyboy wants to be capable. He’s always been a spacy kid and it causes everyone to worry about him— he tends to zone out a lot , gets caught in his own world and really absorbs movies and books in a way none of the others do. He’s sensitive. Even he feels that sensitivity and it makes him wildly Insecure— how different he is. Why’d he have to be observant why couldn’t he just be fine with fighting and cars?

Good grades are hard to come by in the neighborhood and he gets those. He stays out of trouble when he can. Sticks up for everyone. There’s almost a expectation that good grades should be enough but he still has to work and prove himself to the soc’s that he’s not just some hood and he’s in advanced classes for a reason.

He wants to be tuff, and he is. He walks the walk, talks the talk- can look mean when he needs to and throws a punch good. He’s just never found a way to live with it or accept things. Pony thinks too much and too little at the same time.

“I ain’t a chicken, Two-bit Mathews, and you know it.” … “ain’t I a Curtis, same as Soda and Darry?” (127)

He takes a great deal of pride in being a Curtis, in his brother’s reputations. At the same time he wants for one of his own. Don’t he fight good too?

Interestingly, Ponyboy is pretty damn strong. He’s depended on in his track team, he bounces back well from injury/illness (physically at least) and he’s very physically strong despite his age and lengthy stature.

Even with three guys pinning him down he manages to thrash and kick like a buck. He can struggle when there’s no reason he should be able to. Hell— he gets Bob to fall into the fountain! All while pinned down!

It’s not that he can’t handle himself or fight well, it’s how he tends to forget a lot. Pony needs to use his head for more than school and moping around. He tends to see the gangs protection and worrying as patronizing to an extent but it’s not (just) because he’s the kid brother… it’s because he’s one of them.

He’s stronger and more part of the gang than he thinks himself to be. While also displaying a LOT of little brother tendencies, he just needs to realize that’s not a bad thing.

If Curly was in that class where Ponyboy pulled out his knife to dissect a frog he would have fallen in love immediately.

Y’all can miss me with the “Ponyboy is weak” allegations