A greaser kid learns gold doesn't stay — and writes to prove it did.
Who drives the story
Fourteen, the youngest Curtis, a track runner and reader who narrates the whole war between greasers and Socs. He survives a drowning, a fire, and two funerals, then turns it all into his English theme.
Sixteen, the gang's pet, beaten at home and once nearly killed by Socs, carrying a switchblade ever since. He kills Bob to save Ponyboy, saves children from the fire, and dies telling Ponyboy to stay gold.
Seventeen, the hardest greaser, a New York street veteran who loves Johnny more than anyone. When Johnny dies, Dally robs a store and points an unloaded gun at police so they'll shoot him.
Twenty, roofing work, guardian to two brothers since their parents' car crash. His slaps and shouting hide terror; his tears at the hospital reveal it.
A Soc girl who talks sunsets with Ponyboy and admits both sides have it rough. She spies for the greasers out of guilt but won't visit Johnny, who killed her boyfriend Bob.
Cherry's boyfriend and the Socs' leader, the boy in the rings who wrecked Johnny. He tries to drown Ponyboy and dies under Johnny's blade.
Bob's best friend, who walks away from the rumble because winning changes nothing for either side.
Also in the story
Sixteen, handsome, dropped out of school to work at a gas station, the easygoing middle brother who holds Ponyboy together.
The wisecracking greaser with a switchblade and a habit of stealing, good for a laugh in the worst week of Ponyboy's life.
How they are connected
He kills Bob to save Ponyboy, saves children from the fire, and dies telling Ponyboy to stay gold.
He kills Bob to save Ponyboy, saves children from the fire, and dies telling Ponyboy to stay gold.
Dallas "Dally" WinstonJohnny Cade
Seventeen, the hardest greaser, a New York street veteran who loves Johnny more than anyone.
Sixteen, handsome, dropped out of school to work at a gas station, the easygoing middle brother who holds Ponyboy together.
A Soc girl who talks sunsets with Ponyboy and admits both sides have it rough.
She spies for the greasers out of guilt but won't visit Johnny, who killed her boyfriend Bob.
She spies for the greasers out of guilt but won't visit Johnny, who killed her boyfriend Bob.
He tries to drown Ponyboy and dies under Johnny's blade.
Bob's best friend, who walks away from the rumble because winning changes nothing for either side.
The wisecracking greaser with a switchblade and a habit of stealing, good for a laugh in the worst week of Ponyboy's life.
Go deeper
Class war without a winner · Staying gold · Brothers as parents · Violence as inheritance
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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