Role Of Ponyboy In The Outsiders

Ponyboy’s Changed Perspective in The Outsiders
The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton is an inspirational book about teenagers, choices, and change. There are many characters that are important to the narrator Ponyboy, some more than others. Some members of their "Greaser" gang are tough, or happy-go-lucky, while others are shy or serious. One very important character, who changes drastically over the course of the novel, is Dally Winston. In the first half of the book, Ponyboy views Dally as extremely mean, selfish, and tough. However, as the novel progresses, he realizes that Dally can also be a soft, caring, and kind person, and look out for all of his friends, most especially Johnny. From Pony's eyes, Dally really only cares about himself. When …show more content…
One example of this is when Johnny and Ponyboy need help after Johnny kills a Soc in the park. They go to Dally, and ask for help. He gives them money, a gun and some dry clothes. “Git goin’!” He messed up Johnny’s hair. “Take care kid,” he said softly” (62). Although Dally always babies Johnny, this is the beginning of Dally turning softer. He is not only making sure that Ponyboy and Johnny are okay, but he is genuinely worried for their safety and is helping deal with the aftermath of what happened in the park. Another time is when Ponyboy and Johnny run away to Jay Mountain, Dally comes up to visit them: “Hey Ponyboy!” He grinned down at me. I'd never thought I'd live to see the day when I would be so glad to see Dallas Winston” (80). Ponyboy is glad that Dallas showed up, but Dally seems happy too. For someone whose eyes are always cold ice, full of hatred of the world, doing something like grinning is important. Dally is just as glad to see Ponyboy, and has found some sympathy for Ponyboy and Johnny, because of all that they've been …show more content…
He is ultimately selfless and caring, even during his last moments. One way this is shown is really aight before they approach the church fire, Dally is talking with Ponyboy and Johnny at the Dairy Queen. He is explaining that he doesn't want Ponyboy, and Johnny (especially), to get all tough and mean like him. “I kept staring out the window at the passing scenery, but my eyes kept getting round. Dally never talked like that. Never. Dally didn’t give a Yankee dime about anyone but himself, and he was cold and hard and mean” (90). Ponyboy is seeing Dally in a new light. For his whole life, he has only viewed Dally as “cold, hard and mean”, and in this quote he is realizing that Dally is different. It’s as if he were telling himself that Dally isn't like this, and it can’t be Dally saying all of this to them. Also, although Dally has always “babied” Johnny, he has never really looked out for him. This is a time when he is actually trying to impact Johnny’s life, and not just stay out of his way. Finally, Dally talks with Ponyboy on the way to visit Johnny at the hospital. He is trying his best to give advice to Pony. He doesn't want Ponyboy to get hurt, and is saying similar things as the quote before. “You look out for yourself, and nothing can touch you....” He said a lot more stuff, but I didn’t get it at all. I had a stupid feeling that Dally was out of his mind, the way he raved