1. Social and Economic Status:
- Greasers: Typically from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, they are portrayed as working-class or poor.
- Socs: They come from privileged backgrounds and are associated with wealth and social status.
2. Appearance:
- Greasers: They have a distinct style, often wearing denim jackets, leather, and greased-back hair.
- Socs: They dress in preppy and stylish clothing, reflecting their upper-class social status.
3. Values and Behavior:
- Greasers: They value loyalty, friendship, and unity within their group. However, they are often portrayed as rebellious and outsiders who engage in petty crimes and brawls.
- Socs: They are often depicted as arrogant, entitled, and prone to bullying. They look down on the Greasers and view them with contempt.
The main tension between the Greasers and the Socs arises from these differences in social status, appearance, and values. The Greasers feel resentment toward the Socs, who they perceive as privileged and unfair. The Socs, on the other hand, view the Greasers as inferior and often engage in conflicts to assert their dominance. This tension reflects the broader socio-economic divisions in society, where marginalized groups (like the Greasers) feel unjustly treated by those with greater power (like the Socs).
The clash between the Greasers and the Socs forms the core conflict in the novel and drives much of the plot and character development.