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In The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, the theme is developed through the characters, the setting, and the plot. In the beginning of the novel, close friendships are shown, but to what depth, is unknown. As the novel progresses, the depth of these friendships grow. In the book, (Example 1) Johnny kills Bob because he was trying to drown Ponyboy. Later in the novel, Dally kills himself after Johnny dies in the hospital, because he had lost the one person he had loved most. The setting which involved deep friendships in the east side of town, showed the importance of friendship within the novel.

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When Johnny dies, Dally cannot take the fact that the seemingly only person he has ever loved, is lost. He cracks under the pressure and it leads to complex suicide at the hands of the police.

“We reached the vacant lot just as Dally came in, running as hard as he could, from the opposite direction. The wail of a siren grew louder and then police car pulled up across the street from the lot. Doors slammed as the policemen leaped out. Dally had reached the circle of light under the street lamp, and skidding to a halt, he turned and jerked a black object from his waistband. I remembered his voice: I been carryin' a heater. It ain't loaded, but it sure does held a bluff.
It was only yesterday that Dally had told Johnny and me that. But yesterday was years ago. A lifetime ago.
Dally raised the gun, and I thought: You blasted fool. They don't know you're only bluffing. And even as the policemen's guns spit fire into the night I knew that was what Dally wanted. He was jerked half around by the impact of the bullets, then slowly crumpled with a look of grim triumph on his face. He was dead before he hit the ground. But I knew that was what he wanted, even as the lot echoed with the cracks of shots, even as I begged silently--- Please, not him... not him and Johnny both ---I knew he would be dead, because Dally Winston wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted.” (154)

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Dally goes in after Ponyboy and Johnny, and pulls them out of the burning church. He hits Ponyboy on the back, as Ponyboy’s back is on fire.

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Once Johnny and Ponyboy get to the church, they both fall asleep. The next morning, Johnny goes to get supplies for their stay in the church, and leaves Ponyboy alone to let him sleep.

“It was awful quiet, with just the sound of rushing wind in the trees. Suddenly I realized that Johnny wasn't there.
‘Johnny?’ I called loudly, and that old wooden church echoed me, onny onny... I looked around wildly, almost panic-stricken, but then caught sight of some crooked lettering written in the dust of the floor. Went to get supplies. Be back soon. J.C.” (69)

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Johnny lets Ponyboy sleep and make his legs numb, and he stays awake to figure when they need to jump, in order for them to make it to the right place.

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Dally helps both Ponyboy and Johnny by giving them supplies and a place to hide while the whole story blows over.

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Johnny kills the Soc because they were trying to drown Ponyboy.

"'You could use a bath, greaser. And a good working over. And we've got all night to do it. Give the kid a bath, David.' I ducked and tried to run for it, but the Soc caught my arm and twisted it behind my back, and shoved my face into the fountain. I fought, but the hand at the back of my neck was strong and I had to hold my breath. I'm dying, I thought, and wondered what was happening to Johnny. I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I fought again desperately but only sucked in water. I'm drowning, I thought, they've gone too far... A red haze filled my mind and I slowly relaxed. The next thing I knew I was lying on the pavement beside the fountain, coughing water and gasping. I lay there weakly, breathing in air and spitting out water. The wind blasted through my soaked sweat shirt and dripping hair. My teeth chattered unceasingly and I couldn't stop them. I finally pushed myself up and leaned back against the fountain, the water running down my face. Then I saw Johnny.... ‘. I killed him,’ he said slowly. ‘I killed that boy.” (56)

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The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is about friendship and reveals the loss of a core friendship can sometimes be more devastating than the loss of life itself.