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In The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton develops the theme, friendship, by giving multiple examples throughout the story of different kinds of sacrifices these true friends make for each other. The first big sacrifice made is by Johnny, when he kills Bob to save Ponyboy. From there, the characters continue to put their friends before themselves, or to risk their lives for the sake of their loved ones. Even though Dally's "suicide" was not a sacrifice, it shows that Dally valued Johnny's life above his own, because he believes that if Johnny is gone, there is no reason for him to live. In the same way, Johnny did not sacrifice anything when he wrote the letter to Ponyboy, but it tells the reader that Johnny cares more about his friends living a good life after he is gone than he does his own life. The author of The Outsiders uses characters' actions and plot events to develop the theme of friendship throughout the novel.

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When Johnny killed Bob, it was not only an act of self defense, but an act of friendship. He says, "I had to. They were drowning you, Pony. They might have killed you." Johnny might not have killed that Soc if Ponyboy hadn't been with him, but since they were hurting Ponyboy, he did it without hesitation. In a way, it was a sacrifice, because he was sacrificing his relative purity for Ponyboy.

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Before Johnny died, he wrote a letter to Ponyboy, explaining what he meant when he said, "stay gold." He wants Ponyboy to remain the way he is and not change because of the greaser lifestyle. He also says, "There's still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally. I don't think he knows." (179) Even though he was dying, and he knew it, his main focus was making sure his friends had a good life after he was gone.

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After Johnny died, Dally could not deal with the loss. So, he robbed a grocery store and basically let himself be shot. "He was dead before he hit the ground. But I knew that was what he wanted." (154) While he did not make a sacrifice for Johnny, this act shows the strength of their friendship, because it proved that Dally could not go on without Johnny. "Johnny was the only thing Dally loved. And now Johnny was gone." (152) Dally loved Johnny so much that he didn't see any point to living without him.

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Dally ran into the burning church to save Johnny, even though he could have died.

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Cherry became the greasers' spy despite her reservations.

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After Johnny killed Bob, him and Ponyboy needed to get out of town. Dally gave them money and a gun, and helped them get out of town, even though he could get in trouble for it. After he told them where to go, he said, "Man, I thought New York was the only place I could get mixed up in a murder rap." (61) He knew that there could be consequences for helping them, but he did it anyway.

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The Outsiders by S.E Hinton is about friendship and reveals that love is stronger than any one person or thing, and that when people love each other, they put their loved one before themselves.