Character Analysis
Bob Sheldon
Bob Sheldon is the Soc who originally beat up Johnny. He is Cherry's boyfriend, and, like Johnny, he is a victim of his own family. Unlike Johnny, his parents do not physically or verbally abuse him; however, they do something equally as harmful: They allow Bob to shirk responsibility for his own actions.
Bob is the rich kid who has never had to work for anything. His parents have given in to him his whole life, and have never set any boundaries for him. "His parents let him run wild" is the way his best friend, Randy, describes him. Pony wonders, "because they loved him too much or too little?" Johnny kills Bob when the Socs attack Johnny and Ponyboy in a park.
Both Bob and Johnny are victims of their own family relationships.