The Robert Frost poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” holds a powerful meaning in the S.E. Hinton novel The Outsiders. The poem is not explicitly mentioned in the novel, yet its powerful message of impermanence and the inevitability of change is at the core of the narrative. In a nutshell, the poem points out that all of the good things in life are fleeting and ephemeral. This thought is poignantly demonstrated in the characters of The Outsiders who, while they may feel invincible at the moment, can’t ignore the results of growing up and the loss of innocence.
The loss of innocence is a major theme in the novel, as both the Socs and the Greasers become disillusioned with life as they get older. The Socs discover the privilege that comes with wealth does not guarantee safety and happiness, while the Greasers learn all too painfully that violence does not bring peace and camaraderie within the group. The poem can be seen to echo this idea, with the golden leaves – symbolic of innocence – being swept away like dust in the wind. As Frost writes, “nothing gold can stay”.
Frost compares the end of summer and the sight of fading leaves to the process of growing up, and this is reflected in the characters of The Outsiders. Both the Socs and the Greasers are coping with their own losses of youth and innocence as they grow older, and the poem can be interpreted to represent the end of their carefree lives in the novel. None of the characters can deny the effects of growing up, as they struggle to accept the truth that “nature’s first green is gold” and that “nothing gold can stay”.
The Greasers in particular embody this sentiment in their often desperate attempts to remain “gold”. The novel is narrated by Ponyboy, and in him we see the reluctance to accept that his gang will come to an end. The poem is used to describe the fading beauty of the sunset, yet the same idea applies to the Greasers, who will eventually have to move on from their adolescent years. This may explain why the poem is not explicitly mentioned in the novel as the message it conveys is too powerful for the characters to confront.
The Robert Frost poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” carries a powerful meaning in S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders. The poem conveys the message that life’s greatest pleasures are impermanent, a message that is poignantly illustrated in the lives of the Greasers and the Socs. Even though the poem is not explicitly mentioned in the novel, its message of change and impermanence is at the core of the narrative.
The Socs
The Socs in the novel illustrate the message of the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” as they discover that their wealth and privilege do not guarantee a safety or a happy life. Despite their early feeling of invincibility and power, the characters of the SOCs in the novel soon realise that they too must grown up and accept the fact that nothing lasts forever.
The poem speaks of fading beauty, and in the context of the novel, its message can be interpreted to show that the lives of the Socs will not remain the same either. Even though they may attempt to cling to their privilege in the face of the Greasers and the inevitability of change, the poem conveys the central idea that “nothing gold can stay” and that no matter what efforts are made, the Socs too will be forced to accept the same fate as the Greasers – that of growing up.
The characters of the Socs in The Outsiders experience this first hand as they are both victims of violence and observers of the changes taking place in the Greasers. Through observing the transformation of the Greasers, the Socs become privy to the fact that no one and nothing can remain untouched by time and growing up. The poem reflects this message in its remembrance of the “golden leaf” being swept away “as if it had never been” and conveys the idea that life’s greatest pleasures, even those bought by wealth, will eventually fade.
The Greasers
The Greasers in the novel The Outsiders handle the message of “Nothing Gold Can Stay” with varying degrees of acceptance. For some, like Ponyboy, the idea of growing up remains too painful to accept and they attempt to cling to their adolescence by stifling the process of growing up. Ponyboy expresses this sentiment when he talks about “staying gold”, a notion which is challenged by the poem and its reminder that nothing lasts forever.
The characters in the novel must ultimately realise that the ephemerality of happiness and life’s greatest pleasures is unavoidable. Through the poem, the message is communicated that, no matter how hard or how desperately they cling to their youth, ultimately, “nature’s first green is gold” and that “nothing gold can stay”. This is the same message that is echoed in the lives of the Greasers who, despite their attempts to remain in their adolescent years, are affected by growing up and the consequences that come with it.
The characters of the Greasers in the novel experience this message in full when their own mortality is challenged by violence. The poem’s depiction of the “golden leaf” being swept away like dust echoes their own losses of life, as the Greasers are reminded of the fact that, for them, nothing gold can stay either.
Ponyboy Curtis
Ponyboy Curtis is a key character in the novel and the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” holds particular significance to him. Ponyboy is the narrator in the novel and attempts to maintain a balance between his relationship with his brothers, his friends and his studies as he goes through this transition period of growing up. However, he also tells himself to “stay gold”, a statement which directly challenges the message of Robert Frost’s poem – that of change, impermanence and the transition of life.
Frost likens the inevitability of change to a sunset, and the same idea applies to Ponyboy’s story. He initially attempts to maintain the goldenness of his life by “staying gold” and encouraging his friends to do the same. But, as the poem reminds us, “nature’s first green is gold”. Ponyboy eventually comes to terms with the fact that life moves on and growing up is inevitable, much like the sunset that Frost writes of.
The irony in the poetry is that even though its message is one of inevitability, it is often used by characters in the novel as a way to embrace the changing times. Ponyboy finds comfort in the poem’s message and realises that, even though life is fleeting, this doesn’t mean that he cannot make lasting memories and build meaningful relationships while he is still young. Thus, even though the message of the poem is ultimately one of impermanance, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of treasuring the present and making the most of life’s fleeting moments.
Biblical References
The poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” puls a strong biblical message that is echoed in the narrative of the novel. Frost draws much of his imagery and symbolism from the Bible, particularly the Book of Genesis. The notion of an idyllic Garden of Eden is a direct parallel to the poem’s idea of nature’s first green being gold. This ties into the message of change and impermanence, as it reflects the idea that nothing stays the same forever, just as Adam and Eve were unable to remain in the Garden of Eden.
In the context of The Outsiders, the poem’s biblical parallels hint at the characters’ own transformation and their growing up. As Ponyboy expresses his wish to remain ‘gold’, he unknowingly concedes to the idea of the Garden of Eden, a place that despite its beauty, can only ever be a passing moment. The characters in the novel are all eventually forced to confront the fact that, just like in the Bible, nothing gold can stay – and their youthful years, no matter how carefree, must eventually come to an end.
Robert Frost’s iconic poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” serves as an allegory for the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of growing up. In the novel The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, the characters must come to terms with the fact that life’s greatest pleasures are impermanent, which is poignantly expressed in the poem’s message of change and its biblical references. In the end, the characters in the novel are all left with the understanding that, just like the “golden leaf”, nothing gold can stay.
