Life experiences change us as people and these experiences can affect our lives both positively and negatively. They teach us lessons that provide wisdom that cannot be obtained in a classroom. However, these lessons can be difficult to grasp at the time they are experienced as it may be through death or harassment. While joyful events can teach us many things, it is the crisis that mainly brings knowledge, especially of how to remain strong in the absence of positivity. Life experiences can also determine our perspective and outlook on life, essentially forming our individual personalities. In the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, Ponyboy, goes through tough experiences that change the way he views and lives his life. Experiencing
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At first Ponyboy thinks the Socs have it made, but by the end of the novel, he too realizes that "things are rough all over". Not only does he find that different people have different problems, but little experiences can be the same for any other, such as the sunset. Once he views Cherri's and Randy's perspective without his own ideals clouding his judgment he is able to understand that the sides make no difference unless they are perceived that way. Ponyboy realizes Darry really did love and care for him and just yelled at him at times and nagged him because he didn't want him to get hurt. His fear of "losing another person he loved" (p.98) is what makes him so protective, and it's not that he has no feelings as Ponyboy originally believes, but too many. His realization leads to a stronger relationship between the two because they try to understand each other. At the end of the novel, Ponyboy decides there really is "good in the world", even for those (like dally) who don't think there is any. They don't believe there is good due to their own life experiences and how people have treated them. Ponyboy chose to see the good, having a positive outlook even after all that had happened. Perspective is what you make it, especially when unexpected events are thrown at
At first Ponyboy thinks the Socs have it made, but by the end of the novel, he too realizes that "things are rough all over". Not only does he find that different people have different problems, but little experiences can be the same for any other, such as the sunset. Once he views Cherri's and Randy's perspective without his own ideals clouding his judgment he is able to understand that the sides make no difference unless they are perceived that way. Ponyboy realizes Darry really did love and care for him and just yelled at him at times and nagged him because he didn't want him to get hurt. His fear of "losing another person he loved" (p.98) is what makes him so protective, and it's not that he has no feelings as Ponyboy originally believes, but too many. His realization leads to a stronger relationship between the two because they try to understand each other. At the end of the novel, Ponyboy decides there really is "good in the world", even for those (like dally) who don't think there is any. They don't believe there is good due to their own life experiences and how people have treated them. Ponyboy chose to see the good, having a positive outlook even after all that had happened. Perspective is what you make it, especially when unexpected events are thrown at