Ponyboy is one of the main characters in the book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. In the beginning of the book, Ponyboy is a caring person that wouldn't hurt anything. For example, in the beginning of the book, if any Socs came, Ponyboy would't use a broken glass bottle to defend himself. Towards the end of the book, Ponyboy was at the grocery store and a few Socs came. Ponyboy had a glass Pepsi bottle in his hand and he broke it and used it to defend himself. This shows that Ponyboy developed over the book by his experiences. This is Direct Characterization.