In S.E. Hinton’s novel “The Outsiders,” the physical setting plays a crucial role in shaping the narrative and conveying underlying themes. Particularly, the division between the East Side and the West Side serves as a significant symbol representing the central conflict within the story.

Setting as a Reflection of Socioeconomic Divide

The stark socioeconomic divide between the greasers, who live on the East Side, and the Socs, who live on the West Side, is mirrored in “The Outsiders”‘ physical setting. The East Side is portrayed as a working-class area characterised by deprivation and few opportunities. The greasers struggle on a daily basis and come from underprivileged backgrounds. According to Ponyboy, the main character, “The East Side wasn’t a good place to live” (Hinton, 5), their neighbourhood. Their disadvantaged position in society is reflected by the run-down housing and scarcity of resources.