I didn't mean to! I didn't think! I forgot!That's all I hear out of you! Can't you think of anything?
I said I didn't mean to...
Darry...
Person vs. Self
I told them not to play in the church... I told them...
We started it. We started it. We started it!
This interaction Ponyboy has with the Socs at the beginning of the novel introduces the Socs as the antagonists of the story. It gives an example of the Socs and allows Ponyboy to voice his thoughts about them.
Darry slapping Ponyboy is the ultimate starting point of the majority of events that take place later in the book. Johnny, Bob, and Dally never would have died, the rumble between the Greasers and Socs never would have taken place, and more.
The church fire that ultimately caused the deaths of Johnny and Dally was caused by either Johnny, Ponyboy, or Dally while they were in the church. Survivor's guilt likely dictates that Ponyboy is blaming himself for starting the fire, which will cause a massive internal conflict for him. Plus, Ponyboy may ask himself what would have happened to the kids if they didn't save them, an additional conflict for him to deal with.