CharacterAnalysisTS

Dallas Winston is a reckless, obnoxious, and apathetic juvenile delinquent. However, he played a major role in // The Outsiders // because he gave the story a sense of danger and changed the personalities of every character he came in contact with by influencing them to do wrong. Because he was the opposite of most characters in // The Outsiders, // He completed the characters. If // The Outsiders // didn't have the complex character that is Dallas Winston his influence of danger would be gone and the story, as a result, would be incomplete.

Dallas Winston is recklessness embodied. A prime example is when he gave Ponyboy and Johnny a gun when he killed that soc on page 59. When he did this he became an accomplice in a murder. Fully aware of the potential repercussions of his actions he willingly gave went through with this. Another example of his recklessness takes place a little before the last example. "He didn't bat an eye when Johnny told him the story. He only grinned and said, 'Good for you.'" (Hinton, 59) In this exert from the book Dallas demonstrates his complete and utter disregard for his or other people's actions.

Dallas Winston is obnoxiousness personified. He had many instances where his obnoxiousness attribute shone but the best example of Dally being obnoxious is when he was annoying Cherry at the movies. Dallas tells Cherry, "I'm never nice. Want a coke?" (Hinton, 22) In this quote, Dally demonstrates his obnoxiousness by knowing that he isn't being nice to Cherry but continuing anyways. This shows his true intention of annoying Cherry and explains his character a little bit by showing how he finds enjoyment in getting other people angry. I know that if I met Dally I would have found him to be extremely obnoxious and I wouldn't want to be around him for extended periods of time. I believe this is what other people must have felt when Dally was around them.

Another adjective that describes Dally is apathetic. The dictionary definition of apathy is showing little or no interest, enthusiasm, or concern. He shows little or no care for anyone outside his gang with the exception being Johnny. An example of his apathetic nature is when he said, "That roof's gonna cave in any minute. Forget those blasted kids!" (Hinton, 93) when Johnny and Ponyboy were saving the kids trapped in the church on page 93. In this quote Dally is showing his apathetic nature by ignoring the fact that the kids were dying.

While Dallas Winston may have been a reckless, obnoxious, and apathetic hoodlum with an inexplicable love for danger and getting in trouble, he was also a crucial character in //The Outsiders.// Without Dally the story would be missing a sense of danger and in turn would not be as good of a story. While Dallas might have caused more trouble than good, his presence in the story changed and influenced the events and the characters throughout the tale. In my opinion, Dally was the most important character in //The Outsiders.//