Character Analysis Of Dallas Winston In 'The Outsiders'

Dallas Winston: Underdog, Antihero, and the Bravest Greaser on the Block

Tennis star, Arthur Ashe, the only bBlack man ever to win the singles title at the US Open, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open, once said, “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Ashe fought for civil rights and helped address the stigma surrounding AIDS, the disease that eventually took his life. His quote illustrates his view that heroism is quite an ordinary event, fueled by the desire to serve others without counting the cost, rather than a dramatic flourish and desire to outdo others. In S.E. Hinton’s fictional novel, The Outsiders, Dallas Winston,

In an almost fatherly role, he never hesitates to help them when they need it, even if it means that it could result in very harsh consequences. Start a new paragraph here. Dally is a hero because he is selfless. When two gang members, Ponyboy and Johnny, tell Dally, a fellow greaser, about Johnny killing Bob, a Socs in a rival gang, and how they needed help. Dally does not even question them and helps them out. Despite growing up poor and making an unsteady income at the rodeo he immediately offers money, saying, “‘Here’"---— he handed us a gun and a roll of bills—--- ‘the gun's loaded. For Pete's sake, Johnny, don't point the thing at me. Here's fifty bucks…’” (Hinton 60). Dally is selfless because he helps his friends without worrying about the consequences for himself. He works as a jockey and is Buck Merril’s rodeo partner, but his income seems unstable, because he is dependent on what he can get out of Buck, not a fixed amount. He is therefore selfless when he gives the little amount of money he has to Ponyboy and Johnny. Dally’s selflessness makes him a hero to his friends because he risks getting caught helping criminals

Dally unexpectedly demonstrates bravery many times throughout the book. Initially, Ponyboy views Dally as tough and mean. However, Dally frequently displays his selflessness by helping his fellow gang members, even though the consequences for him could be very detrimental. In doing so, he establishes himself as a father figure, someone who will look out for the others, no matter what. His heroism creates trust between the boys and establishes a ‘family’ within the gang, which each of them is sadly missing in one way or another. Dally’s death makes Ponyboy recall all of Dally’s brave actions and realize that he was, in fact, extremely brave, even in the way he died. Ponyboy matures and he and his brothers also develop a stronger relationship together. People are not always as they