Intertextual Essay – “On The Side Walk Bleedi Essay, Research Paper
INTERTERTEXTUAL ESSAYBy: Justine Tedji Youth s place in society, class difference and violence are all issues presented in the short story, On the Sidewalk Bleeding by Evan Hunter, The Outsiders, based on the novel by S.E Hinton and The Last Spin by Evan Hunter. All three texts invite readers to respond to these issues through the uses of various techniques including setting, symbolism and use of language. Many of these elements also introduce the theme of conformity or individuality in modern society. The issue of youth s places in society common to all The Outsiders, On the Sidewalk Bleeding and The Last Spin, positions the reader to respond sympathetically to the protagonists. The reader is invited to respond negatively to the extensive fighting, violence and killing that the gangs have to resort to gain their place in society. The jacket in On the Sidewalk Bleeding symbolizes conformity and that, for Andy being a member of the Royals is overpowering in comparison to being an individual. This comparison can also be recognized, in The Outsiders as the Greasers wear similar clothing and have greasy hair so that the viewers can acknowledge their conformity and relate to them as a group. Gang pressure which is presented in The Last Spin can make the group representative (Dave) feel tough and this is usually a cover up for their kind nature which can be hidden behind his roughness. In society conformity plays a big role in whether or not people can be accepted, this often means conformity could equal conflict but a rather stronger view that conformity equals control. It appears evident that these intertextual links can be distinguished of youth s place in society, and can be difficult for teens to be able to feel free in public without the worry of not being accepted. Throughout these texts, youth s place in society is of the lower class and the difference between these groups can be established through the use of class difference. These influences can help the viewers to respond sympathetically towards the protagonists, as they are less privileged The Greasers consisting of many rough, violent and hence the word greasy boys Dally, Ponyboy and Johnny are marginalised by the cold heartless community of the Socs. Similarities can be made as in On the Sidewalk Bleeding, Andy was rejected help, as he lay on the cold concrete, blood pouring out his open wound. All because he wore a purple jacket which symbolized he was a royal, not recognizing him as a individual. This stereotypical action cost Andy his life but most importantly he recognized this issue of individuality being more important and gave his best effort to remove the jacket. The readers and viewers can often feel sympathy towards characters in The Outsiders and The Last Spin, using violence to resolve their problems. These elements then resort to characters gaining their place in society by the influence of violence which helps the reader to respond negatively towards the violence throughout the film and the short story as it is accepted as morally wrong. Only being associated to those of a low social background. Class difference can help us as viewers and readers to establish some knowledge of why society can stereotype young people to the extent of where they feel they have to be conformed because being an individual is not accepted. Violence is another big issue promoted in all texts. The symbolism helps to portray the hatred between the groups. With this evidence displayed as very trivial the deaths throughout the film and the short stories often mean the loss of an individual who is hiding behind a group name. Therefore an individual has lost his uniqueness and individuality. Throughout The Outsiders, On the Sidewalk Bleeding and The Last Spin weapons such as knifes and guns are used to portray power and great control over the opposition.
Throughout The Last Spin the gun being the major emphasis can create a very threatening atmosphere which the reader can respond negatively to because of it s harsh intentions. The characters presented when playing Russian Roulette feel terrified of pulling the trigger and this is demonstrated through the tense use of language and the reluctance towards the weapon. Although these characters appear to be confident on the outside they are just pressured by there group to be brave and stand up for themselves. As a reader these actions can appear to be brave but really they are cowards for not standing up to the group and by letting their individuality be snatched away. A issue being constructed throughout all texts which is clearly displayed in the short story On the Sidewalk Bleeding is that often characters are being hated for who they represent not who they really are. On the Sidewalk Bleeding quotes, The knife had not been plunged into the hatred of Andy. The knife hated only the purple jacket. Through the use of this violence the readers are able to construct that the characters have to earn their place in society and within their groups by resulting in violence. The dark, shadowy, secluded alleyways, parkland, vacant lots and basements are settings that are constructed as very dangerous and isolated. These constructed settings immediately set the atmosphere of conjure images of death. The readers feel sorrowful towards the characters among such danger and poverty. The powerful rain and thunderstorms in the background is atmospheric and death related. The reader therefor interprets the rain is symbolizing the waste of life. This can be related to the quote from On the Sidewalk Bleeding, The blood pouring from his open wound. This suggests that his life was pouring out of him, just like the blood. The cold basement being the main setting in The Last Spin is very restricted and gloomy. These images can often lead to a very cold harsh environment with death lurking behind every corner. The setting constructed throughout all texts is very threatening and viewers and readers would respond to these places negatively as they are isolated and dirty. The Outsiders use particular powerful language, which quotes, You get tough and you don t get hurt. This symbolizes such power and aggression among the primitive savages. In all texts the readers and viewers are invited to respond and feel pity over the characters. As these characters appear or have been described as rough ad tough there vocabulary must live up to those standards to. This suggests to us as readers and viewers that the characters must feel obliged to act and speak tough in order to hide their individuality and to be presented as a group. Yet again another issue which demonstrates clearly to viewers and readers that it is more important to be acknowledged as a group member in comparison to being an individual, which means being different. Intertextual links can be presented throughout different texts such as The Outsiders, On the Sidewalk Bleeding and The Last Spin. These similarities can be recognized using techniques such as setting, symbolism and use of language which have been used to create the youth s place in society, class difference and violence. These issues influence readers and viewers to accept that in modern society individuality is more important than being conformed to a group.