Ponyboy is experiencing an internal conflict between his desire for acceptance and self-identity versus his feelings of inadequacy and insecurity about his appearance and how he compares to others, such as Paul Newman.
When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman – he looks tough and I don't – but I guess my own looks aren't so bad. I have light brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes. I wish they were more gray, because I hate most guys that have green eyes, but I have to be content with what I have. My hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in back and long at the front and sides, but I am a greaser and most of my neighborhood rarely bothers to get a haircut. Besides, I look better with long hair.
—The Outsiders,
S.E. Hinton
Describe the conflict in the passage by completing the sentence.
Ponyboy is experiencing an
✔ internal
conflict between
.
1 answer
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