The Positive Side of Rivalry
Some would say that rivalry is a negative thing, but in actuality it is the backbone of competition as we know it. Rivalry is the main conflict in the book The Outsiders. The Outsiders is about the tragedies that take place between two gangs called the Greasers and the Socials. The main character is a fourteen year-old Greaser gang member named Ponyboy. Ponyboy feels he can only trust his brothers named Sodapop and Darry, his fellow gang members, and his friend Johnny, but does not feel he can trust what he sees in the horrible and violent world he lives in. He tries to hide from the violence in his world, but is unable to because something happens one night that changes him forever. Rivalry has a negative outcome in this book but, when used in a positive way rivalry can result in greatness. There are a many ways for people to benefit from a good rivalry, for example, the Olympic Games where there is rivalry between countries or in business where you have rivalry between companies, or on a smaller scale even individual rivalry between dancers and competing dance studios.
In the Olympic Games you are going to find many rivalries between all of the different athletes and countries competing in sporting events. You can always have rivalries in any sporting event, but in the Olympics you have the world’s best athletes all competing against each other. Athletes train for years putting long hours in everyday practicing just to get to the Olympics and have the chance to represent their county and win a medal. Each Country wants to show how great their own athletes are and win medals and this rivalry between the different countries and athletes is positive and pushes the competitors to try harder. The athletes do not get paid but still train for years to have the chance to compete and represent their Country the best they can in the Olympic Games. Rivalries are not always bad or negative, especially in this case. In the Olympics,...