1. Ponyboy doesn’t want to cut and bleach his hair with peroxide, but Johnny knows they need to alter their appearances. According to Ponyboy, how does a military or prison haircut serve as a method to break young men from their social class?

Answer 1

In S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders," Ponyboy observes that a military or prison haircut serves as a way to strip individuals of their identity and social class. By cutting hair short and uniform, it effectively places everyone on the same level, erasing personal expression and individuality. This method acts as a means of control, making young men conform to a particular standard that aligns them with the institution rather than their original social group. Ponyboy's reluctance to change his appearance with the haircut symbolizes his resistance to losing his identity and the connection to his social background, reflecting the broader themes of class struggle and the desire for individuality within the novel.