Cherry and Bob's relationship is so important to me.
Bob did something bad and his death was his own fault, she knows that, but Bob wasn't heartless and cruel. He was captivating, kind, and going through his own struggles that yes, are very different from the struggles of greasers, but not any less valid. Your parents not disciplining you or blaming you for bad behavior may sound nice or not that bad to some, but place yourself in the child's shoes. Your parents care enough to cry when you place yourself in danger via drinking, fighting, committing crimes, etc, but not enough to help you become a happier and healthier person. You act out in an attempt to know where the line is, or to get help and support, but the people meant to give you boundaries and help you cry and ask you 'what do you need me to do' instead of even trying to take control. They are supposed to set boundaries, and discipline you, and teach you right from wrong, because they love you and they want to see you grow up into a successful, happy, healthy person, and they have hopes and dreams for you and your future. If they don't do that, does that mean they don't love you? Have they ever loved you? If you get worse, will they love you? Will they finally take charge or will they stand to the side and watch but do nothing? If your parents don't love you, does anyone else? Do people follow you because they find you fun and enjoyable to be around and are your friend, or do they do it because of your family, or money, or pity? If you showed vulnerability would they pretend to be upset but not actually do anything the way your parents do? Have you ever had friends? Do the people around you support you in everything you do because they genuinely care and want to see you happy, or do they do it so you don't bother them?
That's why Cherry not breaking up with Bob is so important - she sees the reality and tries to help him by sticking by him. Scolding him when he does something wrong but not abandoning him. Letting him know he's loved by trying again and again to put boundaries into place. In the musical, when she breaks up with him, she weakens the point and the nuance of his character and their relationship which I've posted about here. She loves him but abandons him. And yeah, it's not her responsibility as a woman or her girlfriend to try and parent him, and undo the damage and insecurity his parents have done, but in the book she does it anyways because she loves him and sees past the damage his parents have done.
AND GUYS!!! NARRATIVE IMPORTANT OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP ASIDE - SHE LOVES HIM!!! She says she can fall in love with Dally because he reminds her of Bob!!! She doesn't go to Johnny's hospital room because she's grieving Bob!!! She stays with him despite everything because he may not be kind to others but he's kind to her and she believes that there's goodness in him!!! She tolerates the drinking because she loves him and knows it's a way of coping!!! She doesn't and shouldn't have to put up with that but does so anyways because they're in love!!! And there's hints of Bob loving her back despite how little of him we see!! He and the Socs drive around and loop through the streets while PB&J and Two-Bit are walking the girls home, and that could very well be because Bob realized Cherry and Marcia have gone and he's looking for them!! He doesn't jump on the boys when he spots them with the girls because Cherry won't like it and she'll get upset!! He goes into greaser territory and jumps Pony and Johnny because he thought they were picking up/bothering Cherry and Marcia!! It doesn't excuse his actions but guys they love each other!!!!
I love Cherry and Bob so much I literally can't picture them with anyone else, except for Chercia and Bob/Randy. They're just so important to each other for both the narrative and as characters.
