Social Inequality And Violence In The Outsiders By S. E. Hinton

Social inequality and differences in social class can be associated with criminal behavior and violence. However, in the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, these traits are not just associated with the lower-class Greasers, but also the upper-class Socs. This book follows a group of Greasers: Ponyboy, Johnny, Darry, Dallas, Sodapop, Two-bit, and Steve, through a series of unfortunate events that occur leading up to the rumble with the Socs, and the death of Johnny. Greasers are known to be tough. Dallas Winston or “Dally '' as his friends call him was one of the toughest, he was rude, reckless, and fearless, but also protective, reliable, and loving.

Dally did not know how to express his feelings, so he came across as rude and reckless.

Not even the cops scared him. When Dallas and Ponyboy went to go see Johnny after the rumble a cop pulled them over to ask why they were speeding, he told the officer Ponyboy fell off his motorcycle and needed to go to the hospital. When the officer asked how sick he was and offered them an escort Dallas replied, “How would I know if he’s bad or not? I ain’t no doc. Yeah we could use an escort.”. Even when he was injured he wasn’t afraid of a fight, when asked how he got out of the hospital, this was his response, “Talked the nurse into it with Two-Bit’s switch. Don't you know a rumble ain’t a rumble unless I’m in it?” (Hinton p. 144) He showed up to the rumble even with a hurt arm partially because he was fearless, and because he wanted to protect his friends. Dally did his best to keep the boys safe. When the church caught on fire, Ponyboy and Johnny went to investigate. Dally called out, ”Get back in here before I beat your head in.”. (Hinton p. 90) Dallas also tried to protect the boys by giving them the best advice he could, but when they didn’t take his advice Johnny ended up in the hospital. Dallas tried again on the way to see Johnny tell Ponyboy how to keep himself safe the only way Dally knew how was by saying, “You’d better wise up Pony…you get tough like me you don’t get hurt.” (Hinton p. 147) While it doesn’t seem like they didn’t listen

Dallas kept their secret and did his best to throw the police off their trail like when he told the boys he, “kinda let it slip that y’all were headed for Texas. So that’s where they’re looking.” (Hinton p. 82) After diverting the cops, Dallas was just the person to rely on for them to keep out of sight. He brought them to an abandoned church and told them to “ Buy a week supply of food as soon as you get there … this morning, before the story gets out, and don’t so much as stick your nose out of that door.”. (Hinton p. 67) Alongside Dallas being someone both Johnny and Ponyboy could see as a reliable person, he also showed love for Johnny. When Johnny mentioned he wanted to turn himself in, Dally immediately said he shouldn’t turn himself in and Johnny fell quiet. Dally broke the silence by saying, “Johnny, I ain’t mad at you. I just don’t want you to get hurt. You don’t know what a few months in jail can do to you.”. (Hinton p. 89) Even when Johnny was dying in the hospital, Dally was trying to give him the good news and cheer him that they won the rumble and saying, “Yeah they’re calling you a hero now and heroizin’ all the greasers. We’re all proud of you buddy.”. (Hinton p. 149) But, as soon as Johnny died, Dally reached his breaking point and started to cry out, “Oh, damnit, Johnny, don’t die, please, please don’t die…” (Hinton p.