Similarities and Differences

Authors Note: This is an essay comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences shown throughout the two books the two books, the Outsiders and War Comes to Willy Freeman.

Nick Roberts

11/15/11

            There are similarities and differences between the books, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton and, War Comes to Willy Freeman, by James and Christopher Collier. The books both talk about people being stereotyped. There are also many other differences. Some differences are that in the books they are fighting for different reasons. There are many similarities and differences between these two books.

            First off, there are many very obvious similarities between the two books. One of the most obvious similarities in between the two books is that there are people stereotyping the main characters. In the book, The Outsiders, people are stereotyping the greasers and the socs. They think that all greasers are mischievous and commit crimes, which some do, but not all. Also the people think that the socs are all nice and polite, when that isn’t the case. In the book, War Comes to Willy Freeman Willy is stereotyped because people thought that because she was black, she was no good and because she’s a girl she is weak and soft. Let me tell, you, they were completely wrong about that. Stereotyping was one of the biggest themes in these two books.

            Likewise, another very important similarity the two books is that both main characters have evil and kind side of them. In the Outsiders Ponyboy is a very nice, caring person if you get to know him, but if he needs to, he will defend himself and become a tough, hard-nosed person. In War Comes to Willy Freeman, Willy is a hard working person who will get what she needs to get done, done. When she doesn’t get something that she wants, the evil side of her comes out. She kicks and scratches until she gets it. There are many ways that the main characters show the good and bad sides of them.

            However, on the other side of things, there are many differences between the two books. One big difference that really stood out to me is what the people are fighting for. In the Outsiders, the greasers are fighting to prove themselves to the world and society. In War Comes to Willy Freeman, they are fighting to save their country and to be free from British control. Another big difference in the two books is the main characters family. Willy came from a family whose dad bossed around her mom and was very disrespectful to towards the family, but she still considered them her family. When they died, Willy lost everything. She lost her home, anyone who cared about her, and most of all herself. She began to let that affect her decision making and led her into making poor decisions at the time. In the Outsiders, Ponyboy was raised in a loving and caring household. He always had someone to go when in a situation. When they died, luckily, he had his fellow greasers to turn to for advice and help. Something that Willy never had.

            As you can see, the two main characters are two very different people in the two books, the Outsiders and War Comes to Willy Freeman. The main characters in these books are different, but the books themselves are similar in many, but also different in many ways. These similarities and differences are shown very much throughout the books. Stereotyping, family, and the main characters are just some of the many similarities and differences that are shown throughout the two books.