Character+ReflectionSR

CHARACTER REFLECTION : DALLAS WINSTON
The greasers in Ponyboy's neighborhood aren't really a gang. They are a group of close friends that stuck together through some tough conditions. Everyone in the group is interesting in their own way. Out of everyone, Dallas Winston is definitely the most interesting of the greaser gang. He is a tough, hardened criminal but he can also be a nice, caring guy. He is a dynamic character that grows and changes throughout the novel. Dally is a great character and he cares about the gang.

Dally, over the years, has become a hardened criminal. After growing up in New York and being jailed at the age of 10, it started a life of crime for Dally. He often goes back to New York to blow of steam and get into more trouble. He is well known in jails and in the streets for his criminal record. But jail hasn't been all perfect and cool for Dally. Dally said to Johnny, "'You get hardened in jail, I don't want that to happen to you like it happened to me,'"( Hinton, 90). Even though Dally thinks its all cool to be in and out of jail and having a long criminal record but it's also having a bad affect on his life. But underneath that tough exterior, he also has a nice, caring side that he shows to his gang and other greasers.

As scary and mean as Dally is, he can also be a nice, caring guy. He is especially caring to Johnny. Dally realizes how bad Johnny's life is and how Johnny idolizes him, Dally has grown to like Johnny. When Johnny jumped into that burning building, Dally ran after him. When Johnny was dying, Dally was always in the hospital with him and was devastated when he died. Dally is saying to Johnny, "'they're still writing editorials about you in the paper. For being a hero and all. Yeah, they're calling you a hero now and heroizin' all the greasers.Were all proud of you buddy.'" (Hinton, 148). This shows that Dally really cares for Johnny more than anyone else. He also helped Pony too when he and Johnny had to find a place to hide.

Dally really is a tough member of the gang. Under most conditions he tries to be tough and get out of the situations. One example is after he got admitted into the hospital, he asked for Two - Bits' switch to escape the hospital. He also used the switch to go visit Johnny by threatening the doctor. "'We're gonna see him,' said Dally. and if you give me any static you'll end up on your own operatin' table'" (Hinton, 147). This shows that no matter what, Dally will get what he wants.

Dallas Winston is the most interesting of the greaser gang. He is tough and hardened but also caring. He is a great guy with the gang as his family. He has an interesting personality and a caring soft side. When you get to know him he treats you better based on who you are. He's an all-around good and complex man who's caring side comes out at the end and it's very sad when he dies. He lived a life of crime but in the end he couldn't handle it