The Outsiders Analysis

Before one begins to truly understand who Dallas Winston really is, it’s necessary to first examine how he was viewed by his friends as being cold-hearted and tough. While trying to figure him out, Pony comments, “It would be a miracle if Dally loved anything. The fight for self-preservation had hardened him beyond caring.” (Hinton, 1995, p.g. 59). Because Dally’s been through so much in his life, he’s put walls around himself which makes him seem indifferent and helps to keep himself stable. Without making himself seem cold-hearted, he’d be revealing his true nature and would ruin the reputation he has amongst his friends. This can also relate to why Dally appears to be tough. As we were being introduced to Dallas in the beginning of the book, the main character Ponyboy describes him by saying, “Dally had spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested at the age of ten. He was tougher than the rest of us- tougher, colder, meaner.” (Hinton, 1995, p.g. 10). This shows the audience that Dally has a reputation for being tough and mean by the way that he was arrested at such a young age. To be able to live on the rougher side of New York, toughness is also almost a staple trait one must have. His past has made his friends think that this is his true self when in all reality, he is actually very loving.

In S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, two gangs clash and deal with their own personal conflicts. Told through the outlook of Ponyboy, a fourteen-year-old greaser, the novel is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma during the 1960s. This expository essay analyzes many characteristics of three gang members in the story. Dally, Steve, and Johnny are three characters that will be described in much detail on their characteristics.

First of all, Dallas Winston presents a fake personality. In the novel The Outsiders he is supposed to be the brave, bold, and strong character yet Dally is only doing that on purpose. For example, from this quote “I’m never nice” (22) it is inferred that Dally only said that to Marcia and Cherry just to look tough and cool. Adding on to that, “He had been arrested, he got drunk, he rode in rodeos…” (11) shows that Dally is giving off a tough reputation towards everyone, such as the Socs and even to the Greasers. Dally has low self-esteem which has probably caused him to act as he does in this novel. He probably has this low self-esteem from the lack of love he receives. During his past, there has probably been a time when he has been hurt by his parents, friends or other people which has changed

The theme of The Outsiders is that everyone can rise above what others expect from them. This is relevant throughout the book when Johnny and Ponyboy save the kids from the burning church, when Randy doesn't want to fight or hate the Greasers anymore, and when Johnny stands up for Cherry and Marcia.

Literature enlightens human beings about profound life lessons and the complexities of human interactions. In the fictional novel, "The Outsiders," by S.E. Hinton, the protagonist, Ponyboy Curtis, undergoes a multitude of traumatic experiences that change his life forever. Through elaborate direct and indirect characterization and symbolism, S.E. Hinton develops many universal themes. The value of friendship and gang loyalty, staying true to oneself, and closing the gap between the rich (Socs) and poor (greasers) are among the most significant themes that the author wants readers to learn from and apply in life.

I think this applies to Dally because of his personality. Dally is the kind of character that only cares for himself and will beat up any one who is aggressive with him. Dally also grew up on the bad side of New York and was first arrested at the age of ten. He has seen the worst things people do, from murder to abuse, this is why he acts so tough. Another reason I chose him, his age matches this quote perfectly. Seeing so much in such a short amount of years made his outlook on life very bad

Darry can be described as responsible for many reasons. Darry was a hard worker; he had to support himself and two other teenage boys. A quote from the novel, Ponyboy states, “Darry didn’t deserve to work like an old man when he was only twenty” (Hinton 16). He worked hard all day just to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Darry wants Ponyboy to exceed excellence in life. He often yells at him because he cares and wants to make sure he has the best future he could possibly get. Ponyboy says, “I never could please him. He would have hollered at me for carrying a blade if I had carried one. If I brought home B’s he was A’s. If I had A’s, he wanted to make sure they stayed A’s. If I was playing football, I should be in studying, and if I was reading, I should be out playing football” (Hinton

“The Outsiders”, written by SE Hinton outlines the division of rich and poor, honor and individual identity. An important character in the novel is Dallas Winston who his friends call Dally. At the beginning of the book, Ponyboy dislikes him and refers to him as “tougher, colder and meaner”. Slowly throughout the book, you see Dally’s other side and he is soft underneath the hard shell of his body. The division of the rich and poor is the key idea in the book, the Soc’s being the rich and the Greaser’s being the poor. Dally fits into the greasers and he is “tuff”, loyal and caring towards his gang.

Ponyboy tells us that,“when you’re a gang you stick up for members. If you don’t stick up stick together, make like brothers, it isn’t a gang anymore,”(Hinton 26). This is what the greasers do for each other: they stick up for one another and build a supportive community. In the story, The Outsiders, by SE Hinton, the book is about Ponyboy and his gang taking care of each other because there gang is that they fight against the Socs. The characters and actions of this story create a supportive community Kindness and Loyalty.

They might have been aggrivated that Dally was upset all the time but they would help him get through it. He we eventually go on with his life so he could feel happier by going to parties like he used to. Although the Greasers would most likely help him get through this tough time, his life would only get more depressing due to his only love dying. He would also probably get into more rumbles with the Socs, and become more agressive each time.

Johnny and Dally may be different people, but they have a lot in common. For example, they both have neglectful parents. Dally states that his father does not care where he is or what he is doing. “‘Shoot, my old man don't give a hang whether I'm in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter”’ (88). This is why Dally breaks the law so many times, because he has no one to care for him.Johnny’s parents are the same way, they give him no attention. “‘I think I like it better when my old man’s hittin’

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No it’s… a Greaser? The Outsiders is a book written by S.E. Hilton about a boy named Ponyboy Curtis that is a Greaser who is involved with a murder of a Socs along with his friend Johnny Cade. While it was under self defence, the cops would never believe them so they flee the town. Ponyboy is faced with many challenges along the way that involve his brother's (Sodapop and Darry), his safety, a church fire, and Johnny and Dally Winston death. During all this chaos, heroic actions are taking place throughout the story with most of the characters. Three heroes from The Outsiders include Johnny Cade, Darry Curtis, and Two- Bit Mathews.

A theme in The Outsiders is the strongest friendships are not based on wealth. This theme shows up multiple times in the book. The greasers are poor, but their bond is much stronger than the Socs'. This theme first shows up at the very start of the book, when Ponyboy is jumped well walking out of the movie theater. All of his friends come to his rescue and fight off the guys who attacked him. "I lay there and wondered what in the world was happening - people were jumping over me and running by me and I was too dazed to figure it out,"(6 Hinton) "By then I had figured that all the noise I heard was the gang coming to rescue me."(7 Hinton) Ponyboy's friends and brothers will stop whatever they are doing to help one of their people in need.

In the beginning of the novel, Dally is a cold person, someone with no fear. He lived in New York for some time previously, and is described to be a much more harsh gang environment. He robs stores like nothing and has a lengthy police report, filled with all kinds of little tales of illegal activity. At the drive in movie he treats Cherry and Marcia poignantly and doesn't even flinch at their pure disgust toward him. Ponyboy describes him as the coldest and toughest, and even though Ponyboy doesn't like him, he respects him.

When Dally said “Two-Bit, you still got that fancy black-handled switch” This is also showing how he is being affected by being a Greaser because he wants to leave the hospital and go use the switch to fight against the gang called the Socs. Dally does accept that he is stereotyped as a Greaser this is shown when Ponyboy states “Dally hated doing things the legal way.” Although the Greasers did not always follow the rules Dally really shows that when he does things like stealing he is proud to be a Greaser because they are all “tuff”. Dally does accept that he is a Greaser and is not really affected by it the only thing he needs is the