How do the greasers act before the rumble? Give specific examples and explain why they act this way.

 

Acrobatics (Darry took a course at the YMCA and then taught acrobatics to all the other greasers) why? This is the other way to release their nervousness. As the greasers gather together at the vacant lot, Pony compares the other greasers to his gang. His gang never uses weapons and has never really hurt anyone. Pony realizes that they (his gang) are not hoods, and they don't belong with this group of future convicts. Ponyboy realizes that, unlike these hoods, Darry has the potential to be successful in life.

Step-by-step explanation

In this chapter, Ponyboy questions his identification with the East Side greasers. As the seriousness of life hits him and he is forced to deal with the issue of mortality, he begins to challenge some long-held beliefs.

The perspective of being an outsider has now almost come full circle. Pony is now beginning to view himself and his brothers as outsiders within the East Side greasers. It is important to remember that seeing oneself as an outsider is a matter of perspective. That perspective can shift as a person begins to look at life and life's situations through different eyes.

Pony realizes that appearances are meaningless (". . . half of the hoods I know are pretty decent guys underneath all that grease, and from what I've heard, a lot of Socs are just cold-blooded mean — but people usually go by looks.").