Chapter 9

The Curtis brothers prepare for the rumble and make their hair slick for the upcoming challenge. The Greasers walk toward the decided area. Ponyboy is still unsure about the gang’s decision to proceed with the rumble. He ascertains that Sodapop fights for fun, Darry fights for pride, Steve fights because he hates the other side, and Two-Bit fights for his desire of belongingness. He realizes that none of these are good enough reasons for a fight; the only acceptable reason is self-defense. They meet Tim Shepard’s gang and the Brumly gang at the vacant plot. He realizes that the Curtis brothers differ from the other gangs in their desire to make a better life for themselves.

Ponyboy watches as the Socs and Greasers prepare to fight. There are twenty Greasers and twenty-two Socs. He notes that the external appearances are a means to conceal their realities. He mentions that while the Greasers might look rugged, they are actually kind and generous. The Socs looked suave but are mean and horrible. Darry challenges that he could take on any of the Socs, and Paul, Darry’s friend from high school, steps forward. As the rumble begins, Dally joins the Greasers to fight. He forced his way out of the hospital by using the switchblade. The fight ensues and is a hard fought one. Ponyboy is on the verge of blacking out when the victorious announcement that the Socs have fled is made. The Greasers are incredibly injured, tired, and wounded but are enlivened by their victory. Dally grabs Ponyboy and tells him that they must inform Johnny of their victory. On their way to the hospital, they are stopped by a policeman for speeding. Dally lies to them saying that Ponyboy is injured and needs to be rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, the cop believes them and they resume their journey to reach Johnny. Dally, during the drive, gives Ponyboy the advice that he and Johnny should toughen up like Dally and not be so sentimental.

As they reach the hospital, a doctor informs them that Johnny is breathing his last. Dally reflexively shows the switchblade to the doctor preempting that they will not be allowed to see Johnny. The doctor clarifies that they can meet Johnny because they are his friends but does not appreciate the threat involving the switchblade. Dally informs Johnny that the Greasers won the fight, but Johnny is not impressed. To him, the fight seems irrelevant and useless. Johnny’s eyes glow when Dally tells him that everybody is very proud of Johnny for helping the children who were trapped in the church. Just before Johnny passes away, he says “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.”

Chapter 10

In a state of loss and shock after Johnny’s death, Ponyboy roams aimlessly in the corridors of the hospital and the streets of the town. A concerned stranger offers to drop him home. At home, he informs the other Greasers of Johnny’s death and Dally’s escape. Darry picks up an incoming call and finds out that Dally has just robbed a grocery store and is running from the police. He asks Darry for help. The Greasers rush to pick Dally up from the vacant plot. In parallel, Ponyboy’s fatigue and physical weakness increases.

As the Greasers reach the empty plot, so does the police van. Dally pulls out an unloaded ploy gun. Not knowing that it is a harmless gun without bullets, the police shoot and kill Dally. In this moment Ponyboy understands that Dally had wanted to die. As Ponyboy watches this, he is overwhelmed by the memories of Dally’s generous and kind gestures. He realizes that only the Greasers are familiar with this side of Dally’s personality. He passes out. When Ponyboy wakes up, he realizes that he had passed out due to a concussion he suffered during the rumble and was unconscious for three days. His brothers had taken care of him at this time.

He also learns that Dally has left his copy of Gone With the Wind for Ponyboy, but he decides to never read it because the character of the southern gentleman reminds him of Dally.

Chapter 11

Ponyboy rests for a week to recover, and comes across Bob’s picture in one of Sodapop’s yearbooks. He thinks about Bob and wonders how his parents might be dealing with the loss.

Randy visits Ponyboy and tells him that he has decided to be honest in the court the next day. He says that his father’s disappointment at his actions is the main cause for this change in his attitude. Ponyboy tells him that this case might break up the gang, which makes Randy worried. Ponyboy tells Randy that it was him and not Johnny who killed Bob. He then begins to claim that Johnny is still alive. At that point, Darry comes in and lets Randy know that Ponyboy is still wrestling with the reality of Johnny’s passing and the concussion has made this transition even more difficult.

Chapter 12

In the hearing that follows, the judge only asks Ponyboy about his family conditions owing to his mental state. Cherry and Randy testify that Johnny had killed Bob in self-defense. The judge acquits Ponyboy and sends him back home with his brothers. As a result of the concussion, Ponyboy often has trouble with memory. As he begins to be lax with his schoolwork, Darry and he get into more fights.

Ponyboy’s English teacher comes to his rescue and offers to switch his failing grade for a ‘C’ on a condition. His condition is that Ponyboy should write an assignment that is based on his experience and thoughts and not on external research. When Ponyboy, Steve, and Two-Bit are at a store for candy and soda, some of the Socs confront them and blame Ponyboy for Bob’s death. Feeling no particular emotion, Ponyboy breaks the glass of a cool drink and threatens the Socs till they run away. Two-Bit is worried about this sudden transformation in Ponyboy and reminds him of his original gentle and sensitive nature. Ponyboy rejects that by saying that he needs to be tougher now to protect himself. However, he contradicts that statement by picking up the glass shards on the store to protect others. This action relieves Two-Bit.

Ponyboy and Darry get into a loud argument about Ponyboy’s lack of motivation and his unwritten essay. Sodapop runs out of the house to post back an unopened letter from Sandy. Ponyboy learns that Sodapop’s girlfriend Sandy had moved to Florida because she was pregnant with a child who was not Sodapop’s. And even though he offered to look after the child and her, she was not inclined to come back to him. Ponyboy feels bad that he has not tended to his brother in so long and both Ponyboy and Darry run after Sodapop. When they finally catch up with Sodapop, he breaks down saying he feels torn between the brothers’ fight. He says that he can see both Ponyboy’s aversion towards Darry’s constant criticism as well as Darry’ hard work and protective instinct. He makes both of them promise to stay together. Three of them race back home but nobody wins because they all want to stay together.

Ponyboy picks up Johnny’s gift of Gone With the Wind while trying to write his essay and a letter from Johnny falls out. In it, Johnny urges Ponyboy to stay golden by watching sunsets and staying sensitive. Johnny ends the letter by asking Ponyboy to pass these thoughts on to Dally as he really needs to understand them. Suddenly it occurs to Ponyboy that he could write about the Greasers as part of his assignment. He believes his work will help people understand Greasers better. He also does that so that people like Dally realize that they are not alone. He starts writing and the first sentence he pens is the first sentence of the novel The Outsiders.

Analysis of Chapter 9 to Chapter 12

The preparation before the rumble signifies a moment where the Greasers look for their collective identity to win. The slicking of the hair and the collective pep talk are times when the identity of the group is especially established and in focus. This sense of belongingness intensifies the division between “us” and “them.” Ponyboy wants to be a part of this collective action and decides to take aspirins to suppress his sickness. Ponyboy is torn between his desire to be one with the gang and his hesitation to participate in the fight. He analyzes the motivation for to fight, but is unable to see the virtue in creating divisions.

When the Greasers meet the other gang, the author gives the reader a glimpse into the diversity of gang culture. While some gang members are criminals and going to be imprisoned, the others, such as the Greasers, work hard to socially uplift themselves. When Ponyboy is congratulated for killing Bob, he accepts the wishes because he wants to belong to the community.

The attraction of gang life is exemplified by Dally’s escape from the hospital to participate in the fight. Their victory speaks of the raw anger and drive they feel during these gang fights even as they get injured.

Johnny’s and Dally’s bond can be seen when Dally cannot wait to inform Johnny of their victory. He is unable to contain his excitement and even lies to a cop when he is stopped for speeding. When they reach the hospital, they are informed that Johnny is about to die. The defining moment of the story is when Johnny, on hearing about the victory, disavows violence and fighting. His last words are to Ponyboy asking him to stay “golden, a reference to their conversation about Frost’s poem.

Dally is extremely heartbroken after Johnny’s passing. All the Greasers are aware of this and attempt to help Dally. Dally has lost purpose in life, which revolved around seeing Johnny become successful and live a peaceful life. Dally’s death is tragic and a result of a police encounter. Ponyboy realizes at that moment that Dally probably wanted this fate. He is acutely aware that only Greasers are aware of Dally’s virtues; the society will continue to view him as a criminal. Johnny left behind his copy of Gone With the Wind for Ponyboy. The book was Johnny’s prized possession and its character reminded him of Dally.

Ponyboy’s sensitivity and maturity is on display when he pieces Bob’s life from his experience and the stories he had heard from others. This process is an important step in the process of healing. When Randy visits, he witnesses Ponyboy’s struggle to accept the tragic loss of Johnny and Ponyboy. Randy’s decision to speak the truth in the court shows that it’s always to bring about a positive change in one’s personality.

The favorable outcome of the court’s verdict fills the reader with hope that the Socs and Greasers might put their differences aside. However, the discussion around Ponyboy’s depression makes the writing closer to realism. This circle of devastation is broken by Sodapop’s letter, which initiates changes in the household.

The conclusion of the book introduces two important qualities of Ponyboy. Firstly, when confronted by the Socs, he behaves in a manner that is not typical of him. He is unfazed by their presence and threatens them. The reader now wonders whether Ponyboy has had to give up his sensitivity and innocence, but are proven wrong when Ponyboy picks up the shards of the glass to ensure that nobody else is hurt. Secondly, we learn of the origin story of the novel. The novel was written as a result of Ponyboy’s English assignment.