The Outsiders Characters List: Character Traits and Analysis

The Outsiders characters are some of the most iconic in young adult literature.

The characters are easy to relate to, and the story is told in a way that is easy to understand. 

This blog post will look closely at each character’s traits, from Ponyboy to Mr. Symes.

Also, check out the table that shows the characters’ ages and whether they’re a greaser or soc.

The Outsiders Greasers Characters

The greasers in The Outsiders are Ponyboy Curtis, Soda Pop Curtis, Johnny Cade, Darry Curtis, Two-Bit Matthews, Steve Randle, and Dallas Winston.

They’re a gang of lower-class teens from the East Side who struggle to survive in a world of judgment and prejudice.

The greasers are renowned for their loyalty to one another and often fight with the Socs, a rival gang of upper-class kids from the West Side. Despite their rough exterior, many greasers have kind hearts and good intentions.

They ultimately prove that friendship is more powerful than any rivalry or hatred.

85 The Outsiders Quotes With Page Numbers

1. Ponyboy Curtis

Ponyboy is the narrator and the protagonist of the novel. He is a fourteen-year-old member of the Greasers who lives with his two older brothers, Darry and Sodapop.

He has light brown, almost red hair and greenish-gray eyes that give him a distinct appearance. What makes him different from the rest of the greasers is that he’s sensitive and creative. His parents died in a car crash, and he writes poetry as an outlet for his emotions.

Darry complains that Ponyboy lacks common sense. But he is loyal and resilient, with a brave spirit that the Socs will not break. He struggles with class division, and at the beginning of the novel, he thinks that the Socs have it better.

He matures as the novel progresses and realizes that the greasers are similar to the Socs and how important it is to stick together.

75 Ponyboy Quotes With Page Numbers

2. Sodapop Curtis

Sodapop is Ponyboy’s sixteen-year-old older brother who works at the gas station. He has golden blond hair and blue eyes, which makes him look like a movie star.

He is the middle of the three Curtis boys and the most easy-going of the three brothers. He often acts as a mediator between Ponyboy and Darry.

He’s kind and gentle but brave when fighting for his beliefs. Ponyboy is jealous of Sodapop’s attractive appearance and appeal. Sodapop intends to marry Sandy, a member of the Greasers.

The Outsiders Quotes From Sodapop Curtis

3. Darrel Curtis

Ponyboy’s older brother. His full name is Darrel Curtis. He is a 20-year-old greaser who raises Ponyboy and Sodapop after their parents die in a car accident.

He has short, dark hair, deep-set brown eyes, and an intimidating physique. He is intelligent, but he quit school. He works two jobs to keep the family going, and he’s the unofficial leader of the greasers.

He is also very good at making chocolate cake. The other greasers call him “Superman.”

Darry Quotes From The Outsiders

4. Johnny Cade

Johnny is the youngest of the Greasers, only sixteen years old. His jet-black hair and dangerous dark eyes make him look much older than he is.

He is initially meek and shy but fiercely loyal to his friends and willing to fight for what’s right. He has endured a lot and possesses quiet strength, making him a formidable opponent.

Johnny Cade Quotes And Page Numbers

5. Dally Winston

Dally is another member of the Greasers and an old friend of Johnny’s from New York. He has short blonde hair and icy blue eyes and often gets into fights with the Socs. He is reckless and wild, willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants.

Despite his tough exterior, he has a soft spot for Johnny and loves him like a brother. He’s only 17, but he’s already served time in jail.

Dallas Winston Quotes In The Outsiders

6. Two-Bit Mathews

Two-bit Keith is one of the Greasers’ oldest members, at 18 years old. He’s a reliable source of comic relief but prone to shoplifting.

He has sandy blond hair and lively green eyes, often wearing his trademark gaudy attire. He can be loud and obnoxious but has a compassionate side and is always there to support his friends. He loves to prank people but also knows when enough is enough.

He loves his black-handled switchblade dearly. His flirtations with Marcia, a Soc’s girlfriend, incite the fight between the Socs and the Greasers.

Two-Bit Mathews Quotes With Page Numbers

7. Steve Randle

Steve, the seventeen-year-old greaser who has been Sodapop’s friend since grade school, is a skilled mechanic and adept at stealing hubcaps.

His short, light-brown hair and dark eyes show his determination and strength. He is also tall and lean and boasts an impressive head of hair that he styles in intricate swirls.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Steve once famously fended off four opponents in a fight with a broken soda bottle. While he’s fond of Sodapop, Steve is often annoyed by Ponyboy tagging along and wishes he would stay away more.

He is level-headed and often acts as a voice of reason when decisions need to be made. He is fiercely loyal and brave, always willing to stand up for what’s right, even if it means risking his safety.

Steve Randle Quotes From The Outsiders

8. Tim Shepard

Tim Shepard is a respected friend of Dally and the leader of another gang of greasers. Ponyboy recognizes Tim as an alley cat, hungry and always on the go.

He is introduced in the story during the night of the rumble when his group joins Ponyboy’s gang. This is when Ponyboy realizes that his group of friends is more than just a group of delinquents trying to make it; instead, they are a real street hood and criminal. Despite occasional conflicts,

Tim and Dally respect each other. He has light brown hair and hazel eyes. He is not as wild as Dally but will do whatever it takes to protect his friends. He is loyal and brave, always ready when danger arises.

9. Curly Shepard

Tim Shepard’s fifteen-year-old brother Curly is both stubborn and rough. Despite this, Tim takes pride in the fact that Curly was sent to a reformatory for six months after robbing a liquor store. But Curly is not allowed to attend the rumble.

10. Sandy

Sandy is Sodapop’s girlfriend but is pregnant with another man’s baby. She has moved to Florida to stay with her grandmother. Just like the other female characters in the story, Sandy only appears in the book when the guys mention her.

The Outsiders Socs Characters

The Socs, or Socials, represent the wealthy and privileged members of society in the novel The Outsiders. They’re portrayed as the “golden children” of the city who have access to all the best resources and can easily get away with breaking the law.

The Socs are mainly identified by their typically expensive clothing and brand name. The Greasers see them as oppressors.

The two main Socs in the novel are Bob and Randy, Bob being the gang’s leader. They are portrayed as haughty and entitled, looking down on those below them in terms of class and wealth.

Ultimately, Bob is killed in a fight with Ponyboy, a Greaser. The death of Bob serves as a moment of realization for Ponyboy, who begins to see the damaging power disparity between the two social classes.

The Socs ultimately represent a larger issue of class struggle in The Outsiders, with their privilege allowing them to oppress the disadvantaged Greasers.

11. Cherry Valance

Sherri, known as Cherry, is Bob’s girlfriend due to her red hair. She is a Soc and a cheerleader, but she finds herself drawn to the Greasers when everything else in her life seems too fake. Ponyboy meets her while they are out at the movies.

Ponyboy finds he can relate quite well to Cherry and eventually opens up to her. During their time at the drive-in, she encounters Dally Winston, who intrigues and offends her at the same time.

Cherry admires Dally’s independent nature and admits to Ponyboy that she could easily fall in love with him. In the days leading up to the rumble, Cherry volunteers to be a spy for the greasers and help them get an advantage.

Cherry Valance Quotes From The Outsiders

12. Bob Sheldon

Bon, Cherry’s girlfriend, has dark brown hair and menacing blue eyes and is a member of the Socs. He has earned a reputation among greasers for his tough fights, often wearing his set of three heavy rings for added intimidation.

Bob’s parents have never reprimanded him for his behavior, allowing him to indulge in his lifestyle.

He’s arrogant, manipulating, and manipulative, stopping at nothing to get what he wants. As the novel progresses, it is revealed that Bob is responsible for beating up Johnny before the story begins.

13. Randy Anderson

Randy is Marcia’s boyfriend and Bob’s closest companion. He’s a good-looking Soc who eventually acknowledges the futility of struggle.

He has dark hair and light blue eyes, often using his good looks to his advantage. Much like Cherry, he humanizes the Socs by indicating that some have praiseworthy qualities.

He encourages Ponyboy to understand that the Socs are similarly defenseless to torment as other people. After Ponyboy rescues the children from the fire, Randy attempts to make peace with Ponyboy. He refuses to fight in the final Soc-greaser rumble.

14. Marcia

Marcia, Cherry’s friend, and Randy’s girlfriend is a Soc who connects with Two-Bit at the drive-in. Her dark curly hair and brown eyes make her appear older than she is.

With a mutual appreciation for witty conversations and nonsensical musings, it’s no surprise that Marcia and Two-Bit become fast friends. As they get to know each other, they discover they have much in common.

15. Paul Holden

Paul is a husky blond Soc. Despite their prior friendship and football team-mateship in high school. Paul steps forward to confront Darry when the rumble begins, 

16. Jerry Wood

Jerry is the teacher who accompanies Ponyboy to the hospital after he saves the children from the fire. He demonstrates a progressive mindset by refusing to label the greasers as juvenile delinquents without considering their merits.

Despite being an adult and a member of mainstream society, he is open-minded enough to look at them objectively and form his own opinion.

17. Mr. Syme

Mr. Syme, Ponyboy’s English teacher, worries about his declining grades. He proposed that if Ponyboy submitted an autobiography with a high-quality composition, he would raise his grade.

This task motivated Ponyboy to write about the greasers and the Socs, which later developed into the book The Outsiders.

The Outsiders Characters Ages Chart

How Old is Ponyboy In The Outsiders?

Ponyboy is 14 years old in the book The Outsiders.

Who is the youngest character in The Outsiders?

Ponyboy is the youngest character in The Outsiders.

How old is Darry Curtis in The Outsiders?

Darry Curtis is 20 years old in The Outsiders.