Quote 4
"Things are rough all over." (2.122)
This is what Cherry Valance tells Pony when they first meet. She's reminding him that everybody has problems that isolate them. She's right, but some problems are worse than others. At this point, she probably doesn't understand just how violently the Greasers are persecuted by the Socs.
Quote 5
"[Bob] had something that marked him different, maybe a little better than the crowd. Do you know what I mean?" (8.97)
I did. Cherry saw the same thing in Dallas. (8.98)
Cherry sees something special in both of these violent, dangerous boys. Does this tell us she has a generous and accepting heart? That she's fooled by appearances? Is she deep or shallow?
Quote 6
"I bet you watch sunsets, too." She was quiet for a minute while I nodded. "I used to watch them, too, before I got so busy…" (3.17)
By sharing her love of sunsets, and recognizing Pony as a sunset-lover too, Cherry's spurring his personal education. Learning to look at connecting factors as well as dividing ones broadens Pony's understanding of the world.