| Character | Description | Quote |
| Dally | has a criminal record in New York; is very tough and mean, but has a soft spot for Johnny | "You'd better wise up, Pony. . .you get tough like me and you don't get hurt. You look out for yourself and nothin' can touch you. . ." |
| Ponyboy | enjoys movies, books, is an excellent student; close to Soda but not Darry; is the narrator of the book | "Sometimes we get along okay, then all of a sudden he blows up on me or else is naggin' at me all the time. He didn't use to be like that. . .we used to get along okay. . .before Mom and Dad died." |
| Two-Bit | life is a joke to him; always smarting off to the police; likes fighting, blondes, and shoplifting | "Shut your mouth, kid. If you wasn't Soda's kid brother, I'd beat the tar out of you. You know better than to talk to Johnny like that." |
| Darry | the "father figure", always pushing Ponyboy; very physical and athletic | "Oh, Pony, I thought we'd lost you. . .like we did Mom and Dad. . ." |
| Johnny | small, nervous, quiet, sensitive, Gang's pet, abused by parents and beat up by Socs | "I think I like it better when the old man's hittin' me. At least then I know he knows who I am." |
| Sodapop | "mother figure", movie-star handsome, happy-go-lucky; dropped out of school; in love with Sandy; loved Mickey Mouse | "Listen, kiddo, when Darry hollers at you. . .he don't mean nothin'. He's just got more worries than somebody his age ought to. He's really proud of you 'cause you're so brainy." |
| Cherry | young, pretty, popular Soc girl | "That's like saying all you greasers are like Dallas Winston. I'll bet he's jumped a few people. Things are rough all over." |
| Bob | Soc boy, Cherry's boyfried | "You know what a greaser is? White trash with long hair." |
| Randy | Bob's best friend | "He's dead--his mother has had a nervous breakdown. They spoiled him rotten. They gave in to him all the time. He kept trying to make someone say 'No' and they never did." |
| Marcia | Cherry's friend | "We're really Arabian slave traders and we're thinking about shanghaiing them. They're worth ten camels apiece at least." |