Fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. His narration is interspersed with casual slang and his most personal thoughts, which provides an inherently subjective, albeit honest, account of events. He has “light-brown, almost red hair and greenish-gray eyes” (1). Like most greasers, he wears his hair long, and his hair is a major source of pride. The youngest of the greaser gang, he is the most intellectual and book-smart of the bunch, yet he often lacks common sense, leading to frequent criticisms by his eldest brother, Darry. His love for books and movies demonstrates that intellect and culture are not determined by social class, though his interests do alienate him from the rest of the greasers. Though he turns to literary worlds to escape his circumstances, the characters in the books he reads help him understand the characters in his own life—including himself.

Ponyboy’s introspection and sensitivity set him apart from the rest of the gang, and he often questions people's motives, including his own. A keen observer, he describes other personalities in detail and understands the role everyone plays in the group. Ponyboy enjoys stargazing and watching sunsets: he is young enough to still find joy and beauty in the world around him.