Meet the Characters

Ponyboy Curtis -  The novel’s fourteen-year-old narrator and protagonist, and the youngest of the greasers. Ponyboy’s literary interests and academic accomplishments set him apart from the rest of his gang. 

Darrel Curtis  - Ponyboy’s oldest brother. Darrel, known as “Darry,” is a twenty-year-old greaser who is raising Ponyboy.  Hard-working, strong, and often strict.

Sodapop Curtis -  Ponyboy’s happy-go-lucky, handsome brother. Sodapop is the middle Curtis boy. Ponyboy envies Sodapop’s good looks and charm.  High-school dropout who works at the local gas station.

Sandy - Sodapop’s girlfriend.  

Two-Bit Mathews -  The joker of Ponyboy’s gang. Two-Bit, whose real name is Keith, is a wisecracking greaser who regularly shoplifts.  His prized possession is a switchblade knife.

Steve Randle  - Sodapop’s best friend since grade school. Steve is a seventeen-year-old greaser who works with Sodapop at the gas station. Steve knows everything about cars and specializes in stealing hubcaps.  

Dallas Winston  - The toughest hood in Ponyboy’s group of greasers. Dallas, known as “Dally,” is a hardened teen who used to run with gangs in New York.  

Johnny Cade  - A sixteen-year-old greaser with black hair and large, fearful eyes. Though Johnny does not succeed in school, he approaches intellectual matters with steady concentration.  Has troubles at home with his parents.

Cherry Valance  - Bob’s girlfriend, she is a Soc cheerleader whom Ponyboy meets at the movies. Cherry’s real name is Sherri, but people call her Cherry because of her red hair. 

Bob Sheldon  - Cherry’s boyfriend. Bob is the dark-haired Soc who beats up Johnny before the novel begins.