The deaths of the two greasers, Johnny and Dally, are close in how tragic they are. Though Johnny’s was the first death and the first wave of painful sadness that would wash over the rest of the gang, I believe that Dally’s was more traumatic. First, it is unexpected, as you would not think there would be another death right after Johnny’s. Then there is the way that Dally died, and that fact that he wanted it. Finally, the impact that his death had on the gang and Ponyboy in particular.
Dally’s death was an unexpected turn of events. With Johnny’s death occurring just moments before, you would think that his death would be the only fatality, and that his death would be the end of the climax of the story. Instead, the height of the book continues when the gang receives a call from Dally. He informs them that he just robbed a grocery store and is now running from the police. Even though Dally was known for committing crimes such as robbery, it is somewhat shocking that he would do it right after a major, heartbreaking event in all of their lives. This part of the book seems to occur to happen all too quickly and unexpectedly.
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Dally had always watched out for Johnny in fights, and when Johnny died, he felt that he had nothing good was left in his life. It is stated in the book that “Johnny was the only thing that Dally loved.” Johnny was the only one who could penetrate the hard shell that Dally had created for himself. With the younger boy gone, there was nothing left for Dally to care about. The seemingly cold-hearted greaser wanted to die after Johnny’s death, so he pulled an unloaded gun in order to force the police to shoot