Chapter Six Notes

Cherry the spy Dally explains that Cherry feels responsible for what happened between Johnny and Bob, so she offered to monitor the Socs’ preparations for the rumble and to testify that Johnny acted in self-defence. Pony says, “it wasn’t Cherry the Soc who was helping us, it was Cherry the dreamer who watched sunsets and couldn’t stand fights.” (Cherry the Soc. vs. Cherry the individual). Pony recognizes that Cherry is acting as an individual (one who is capable of independent thought and action). She is not letting the social differences between her and the greasers stop her from doing what’s right. Cherry is “in limbo” (between groups). She is no longer identifying herself completely as a Soc, yet she can’t possibly fit in with the greasers. Not fitting in with one group or another is a scary position to be in, especially for adolescents, who identify themselves as part of the group to which they belong Cherry is stepping out of her comfort zone to stand up for what she believes is right; she’s tired of the fighting and gang mentality She is trying to resolved the perceived differences that separate the two groups (recall that there really aren’t that many differences at all)

Johnny’s decision Johnny announces that he thinks he and Ponyboy should turn themselves in He has no record, Pony and Cherry can testify for him , will keep Dally out of it Feels guilty for worrying Darry and Sodapop Dally tries to convince him of otherwise “Us greasers get it worse than anyone else” “I just don’t want you to get hurt” “You don’t know what a few months in jail can do to you” “…you get hardened in jail. I don’t want that to happen to you. Like it happened to me…” IMPORTANT: The main drive behind Dally’s care for Johnny is revealed here: Dally wants to stop Johnny from growing up to be like him. Dally himself has lost all his innocence; his hope for a better life is gone However, he still wants those things for Johnny; wants to protect him from losing his innocence

Real Family When Dally relates to Johnny and Ponyboy how worried the gang is about them, Johnny asks whether his parents have been worried too. Dally avoids the question at first but eventually tells Johnny that his parents hadn’t asked about him Johnny has a look of “hurt bewilderment” (devastated) Ponyboy realizes that the gang is like family to each other (they especially treat Johnny like family), but it isn’t exactly the same as being a real family “…they couldn’t, no matter how hard they tried, take the place of his parents” This realization causes Ponyboy to reassess his own family situation He may not have parents now, but he is lucky to have his two brothers – not just gang-member brothers, but real brothers

The Fire As they drive past the church, they boys see that it’s burning. Dally orders Ponyboy and Johnny to stay in the car, but they race to the church anyway. A bystander tells them that a group of school children had been having a picnic there. Ponyboy immediately thinks he and Johnny are responsible for the fire “We must have dropped a lighted cigarette or something” (Remember the foreshadowing?) When Pony and Johnny hear screams coming from inside the church, they dash inside. Though they are seen by society as hoodlums, their first instinct is to take responsibility for the fire they may have caused They show great heroism by running into the burning church without second thought

The Rescue Ponyboy and Johnny find the children and rescue them. While inside the burning building, Ponyboy states: “I should be scared, I thought with an odd detached feeling, but I’m not.” “I remembered wondering what it was like in a burning ember, and I thought: Now I know, it’s a red hell. Why aren’t I scared?” As well, “Johnny wasn’t behaving at all like his old self.” Pony says Johnny grinned at him. “He wasn’t scared either.” “That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes. He looked like he was having the time of his life.” The act of saving the young children also represents the boys’ desire to protect and preserve the innocence of childhood. They feel this innocence slipping away from themselves (explains their lack of fear inside the burning building) After all children are out of the church, the roof collapses. Johnny pushes Pony toward the window, ahead of himself (self-sacrificing) Pony hears Johnny scream behind him, but is knocked hard on the back by Dally and passes out.

The injuries Pony wakes up in an ambulance. The bystander who he had spoken to before is with him (Jerry Wood). Jerry tells Pony what happened – he was on fire and Dally hit him on the back to put the fire out. “That jacket saved you from a bad burning, maybe saved your life” (Ironic why?) Updates Pony on Johnny and Dally “. . . The towheaded kid is going to be alright. He burned one arm pretty badly, though, trying to drag the other kid out the window” Dally puts himself in danger to save Johnny (not surprising considering his love for Johnny) “A piece of timber caught [Johnny] across the back – he might have a broken back, and he was burned pretty severely”

Heroes Jerry Wood praises the boys’ courage “Mrs. O’Briant and I think you were sent straight from heaven. Or are you just professional heroes or something?” Pony responds that they’re greasers and that Johnny is wanted for murder. Jerry doesn’t know the term “greaser” He is surprised by the news about Johnny but continues to comfort Pony as they head to the hospital Jerry’s complete ignorance about what a greaser is reveals the meaninglessness of the greaser identity to the world outside Tulsa. Jerry helps Pony see that it is the boys’ courageous acts that speak for them, not their hair, group identity, or social class. Being a hero goes beyond being a greaser They have defied all stereotypes Note: Dally’s courageous actions were heroic, but he only aimed to save members of his own gang, whereas Pony and Johnny saved people they didn’t even know.

The hospital Pony suffered only minor burns Jerry Wood stays with Pony Worries for Dally and Johnny Dally spoke to Ponyboy when he passed on the stretcher, but Johnny was unconscious Jerry Wood stays with Pony Is very thankful to him for saving the children “He didn’t seen to mind our being hoods” Pony tells him the story of Bob’s murder Jerry does not change his perception of the bravery displayed by Pony, Johnny, and Dally He continues to treat Pony with respect and kindness He reassures Pony that Johnny acted in self-defence and the judge will take into account the boys’ actions at the fire. His treatment of Ponyboy is totally unaffected by the stereotypes that dominate the greasers’ lives back home

The Reunion Sodaop and Darry arrive at the hospital; Soda and Pony hug. Pony stands apart from Darry, thinking “Darry didn’t like me . . . He had driven me away that night . . . “, etc. Pony then realizes Darry is crying (hadn’t even cried at his parents’ funeral). Suddenly understands that Darry’s harsh treatment of him results from his love and concern; he has simply been trying too hard as their guardian “Darry did care about me . . . And because he cared he was trying too hard to make something of me.” Pony and Darry finally hug Darry sobs, says, “I thought we’d lost you . . . like we did Mom and Dad.” Pony finally understands Dally’s fear – he was afraid to lose another person he loved Seems like a resolution to the Curtis family conflict; the brothers are united as a family, which is a source of strength for all of them. At the end of the chapter, the love Ponyboy feels from his brothers causes him to believe that everything is going to be okay. “I had taken the long way around, but I was finally home. To stay.” Shows his continued hope and innocence (still there)

Words JD = Juvenile delinquent