A group of Socs on top of Ponyboy
The Socs (pronounced ˈsoʊʃɪz / so-shehs, short form of Socials) are a group of rich teenagers who live on the west side (in the book and the musical), or the south side (in the movie). They are the rivals of the greasers, and were described as having "money, cars, and futures," according to Ponyboy Curtis.
Appearance
Soc males wear Madras shirts and khakis and usually carry knives and handkerchiefs, whereas the females wear dresses. Ponyboy describes the Socs as smelling like English Leather shaving lotion and stale tobacco. They are also spotted driving expensive cars like Mustangs and Corvairs.
Personality
The Socs are known to jump greasers (especially younger and more sensitive ones like like Johnny and Ponyboy), wreck houses (sometimes through fighting), throwing beer blasts, and getting editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next. They hang out at the drive ins The Way Out and Rusty's. The girls are described by Ponyboy as bright-eyed and either scared or disgusted by the greasers. Cherry told Ponyboy that not all Socs jump people, and it's just like saying that all greasers are like Dallas Winston, who is known for jumping people and more. After Bob's death, Randy talked to Ponyboy, and he revealed that Bob's parents never said no to him, and they blamed themselves for Bob's reckless behavior. All the Socs needed were boundaries and limits - especially Bob. Cherry also noted that the core values between greasers and Socs are different.
Members
Like the greasers, Socs are often in organized groups (referred to as social clubs[1]), and are mainly just groups of rich teenagers and young adults who like to hang out. Notable examples of social clubs include Gregg Parker's group and Bob's group.
- Robert Sheldon - more commonly called Bob, Cherry's boyfriend and the de facto leader of the Socs.
- Cherry Valance - Marcia's best friend and Bob's girlfriend.
- Randy Adderson - Bob's best friend and Marcia's boyfriend.
- Marcia - Cherry's best friend and Randy's girlfriend.
- David - A member of Bob and Randy's gang, he attempted to drown Ponyboy in the fountain.
- Paul Holden - Darry's former good friend when they played football together in high school.
- Gregg Parker - Leader of a small group of Socs appearing in the TV series.
Gallery
References
- ↑ From Chapter 2 of The Outsiders