Equality In The Outsiders

A piece of literature that has a strong theme of equality was The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. A character that definitely showed that was Dally. Dally was the tough guy of the group, a stone faced criminal. “Dally had spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested by the age of ten” (Chapter 1 Page 10). This quotes shows Dally’s past and how he’s always been a thug and has known no other life. After the first few chapters Dally doesn't make many appearances but when he does they play a huge role. Every time Dally appears in the story he seems, softer. Towards the middle point Johnny and Ponyboy have to run away from the cops, so Dally brings them in tells them where to go and gives them whatever they needed to run away. Near the end of the story is where he definitely changed, after Johnny is hospitalized he is depressed because Johnny is really the only one he sympathizes for and cares about. This shows how vulnerable he is now with what happened to Johnny so how he would react to even more stuff happening to him is unknown. After the two gangs had their fight(s) Dally and Ponyboy speed down to the hospital to see Johnny but they were too late. By the time they got there Johnny was on his last legs and after a few words he died, sending Dally into an emotional breakdown. Dally bangs his fist on the wall yells at Johnny’s corpse and eventually runs away.