Chapter 8 Notes

The Hospital Two-Bit and Ponyboy visit Johnny in the hospital. The doctor says, “Let them go in . . . It can’t hurt now.” What might this mean? What might it foreshadow? “It’s true . . . he is dying.” - Ponyboy Johnny is very weak and in a lot of pain, but tries to put up a good front for his buddies. He knows he is in bad shape. He wants a copy of Gone with the Wind so Two-Bit goes to get one. Alone with Ponyboy, Johnny says that he’s not ready to die, that he’s too young and hasn’t had enough opportunities in his life yet. He regrets not doing more and experiencing more; his life so far has been very tough and he hasn’t learned or seen anything of value. There is a connection here to Nothing Gold Can Stay: Johnny is gold. It was the gold in his nature that led him to save the children from the fire. However, these actions also resulted in the injuries that will either kill him or paralyze him forever. Johnny’s “goldness” cannot stay. 

“We couldn’t get along without you.” Ponyboy recognizes that Johnny’s condition is poor. He is struck by the thought that the gang couldn’t get along without Johnny. “We needed Johnny as much as he needed the gang.” Johnny’s need for the gang is obvious – he is small, passive, and an easy target for violence at home and with the Socs. The gang’s need for Johnny is less obvious, but: Johnny gives them a purpose; he is a reminder that they need to band together to protect each other. The greasers understand that Johnny needs extra care and, as a result, they have a common sense of responsibility toward him He is the heart of the gang; he holds a special spot in each greaser’s life. He is the glue that holds them all together; without him, it would be like a piece of the puzzle is missing. There’s no one else in the gang who could fill Johnny’s role.

Johnny’s mother Johnny’s mother wants to visit him. Johnny becomes upset because she’s there. He refuses to see her and then passes out from the exertion. His refusal is somewhat surprising since in Chapter 3 he said to Pony, “I stay away all night, and nobody notices.” Also, in Chapter 6, he is upset when he learns that his parents have not asked about him since he went on the run to Windrixville. Johnny has never felt any real love from his mother. He is hurting physically and cannot stand to once again be hurt by his mother emotionally. Johnny is realizing that his “real” family has done nothing but victimize him, and in his current vulnerable state, he cannot take it.

Dally Dally is his usual self – harassing the hospital staff to let him smoke – but is bummed that he will miss the rumble. While Johnny is upset about missing out on opportunities in life, Dally is upset about missing out on the rumble. Two very different perspectives from two very different people. Johnny, with his innocence still intact, had big hopes for his life. Dally, who has been hardened by life, thinks only about fighting the Socs and protecting Johnny. When he learns of Johnny’s condition, Dally is visibly upset. Dally tells Ponyboy that he thought he’d broken his neck when he put out the fire on Pony’s back, but then he says, “I’m glad I didn’t, though.” This small statement outlines a shift in Dally and Ponyboy’s relationship – although they might not understand each other, they are true buddies who have each other’s backs (literally and figuratively!).

Two-Bit’s switchblade Dally asks Two-Bit for his prized switchblade, and Two-Bit gives it to him without asking any questions. Shows loyalty; will help out a friend no matter what Dally says that it’s essential that the greasers win the rumble, in honor of Johnny. Dally is fiercely loyal to Johnny. He wants to avenge what has happened to him. He is unable to see what Randy pointed out earlier – there is no point to the violence and there will be no real winner. Hinton is a master of foreshadowing. Readers are teased in this section into asking more questions: Why does Dally want Two-Bit’s switchblade? What does he intend to do with it?

Even more foreshadowing… Ponyboy continues to feel ill, and Two-Bit discovers he is running a fever. Ponyboy begs Two-Bit not to tell Darry or he might not be allowed to take part in the rumble. Readers are once again left to wonder what is being foreshadowed. Is Ponyboy ill? Is there an undiagnosed problem that could get serious? Will he be able to fight? Ponyboy also states, “I had [a] deathly fear that something was going to happen that none of us could stop.” “Tonight – I don’t like it one bit.” “I got an awful feeling something’s gonna happen.” What might Hinton be foreshadowing? Will something occur at the rumble? Will more tragedy strike? Two-Bit sees the rumble solely as a greaser. He mocks Ponyboy for being afraid. However, Pony recognizes that everyone in both groups is an individual. His fear is not for himself, but for the other individuals that might get hurt or killed.

Darry the Soc? Two-Bit comments, “the only thing that keeps Darry from bein’ a Soc is us.” Ponyboy agrees. He is good-looking, smart, strong, a football star This conversation highlights the superficial nature of being a Soc. Superficial = insincere, shallow, artificial On paper, Darry has all the qualities a Soc must have . However, his status as a greaser limits the opportunities he has, so he therefore cannot be a Soc. No matter how hard Darry might try, he cannot separate himself from who he truly is – a greaser. However, the very possibility that Darry could be a Soc shows that the lines which separate the greasers from the Socs are not that clear.

Cherry Valance Ponyboy and Two-Bit meet Cherry at the vacant lot. She tells them that the Socs plan to play by the greaser rules in the rumble; they will not be using weapons. Pony asks her if she’ll visit Johnny, but Cherry responds that she can’t because Johnny killed Bob. Pony becomes angry but Cherry clarifies why she cannot visit Johnny. Cherry tells Pony how hard Bob’s death has been on her, and describes Bob’s good qualities. “Bob was something special. He wasn’t just any boy. He had something that made people follow him, something that marked him different, maybe a little better, than the crowd.” Bob the individual, not Bob the Soc, is emphasized here. Pony is still defensive of Johnny, and his heart speaks before his mind. He calls Cherry a traitor to her “own kind”, and also says that she is disloyal to the greasers. The complication of being an individual within a group is clear here. Pony wants Cherry to be loyal to the greasers, but Cherry can’t be because she is a Soc and Bob’s girlfriend. Ponyboy immediately feels bad for his harsh words toward Cherry. This shows Ponyboy’s growth. He is recognizing that everyone is human and Cherry is having a normal reaction to losing her boyfriend. He tries to fix the situation by asking her if she can see the sunset from the west side. She says she can. Pony replies that he can also see it from the east side. This once again establishes a common ground between both groups. It also highlights the hope that Pony has for a better future between them. Pony has developed a more mature understanding of the world and the individuals in it.