The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton reflects the harsh reality for the "Greasers," a gang from "the east side of town." Ponyboy, the youngest gang member is the narrator and he is cared for by his eldest brother Darryl (Darry) who is only twenty himself and is quite "hard and firm" with Ponyboy. Ponyboy's other brother Sodapop is "happy-go-lucky and grinning." Dally (Dallas Winston)is one of the gang members, the most dangerous, and "the real character of the gang."
Dally is fiercely loyal and he is very protective of Johnny Cade who he calls "Johnnycakes." When Ponyboy and Johnny get into trouble, it is Dally who helps them. When Johnny dies, Dally can no longer cope; robbing a grocery store, he sets himself up to be shot dead by police.
By the age of ten, Dally had already been arrested and he had lived "on the wild side of New York" for three years. He is definitely "tougher, colder, meaner" than any of the other gang members and is well-known by the police, with quite an image to uphold. It is the "fight for self-preservation" which has made Dallas the way he is; "hardened ... beyond caring." Therefore breaking the law is expected of him and so he cannot stay out of trouble. He does feel, however, that "if you look after yourself, nothin' can touch you." Even though there are no real gang fights, only social issues between the Greasers and the Socs, Dally is "bitter" and breaking the law is allows him to avoid the real issues that surround him. Johnny's death is his "breaking-point."
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