The Outsiders Essay

 

            You are the smartest person in your grade year.  You are the captain of the High school football team. You have tons of friends.  What if one day that all changed?  The parents you knew and loved died and you had to take control of the family and forget anything you had in mind for a successful life. This is what Darry had to go through in the book The Outsiders.

When Darryl Shaynne Curtis was a child he had a superior life. He was Quarterback of the high school football team and he was even offered a college scholarship. This is what Darry gave up to take care of his brothers. Darry had everything as a child. Giving up his dreams for his family changed his relationship with his brothers specifically Ponyboy. Darry is a dynamic character because he has to change the way he lives to adjust to the death of his parents.

Darry says numerous times: "Ponyboy, use your head" page(50). I believe that when Darry gets angry with Ponyboy he does not mean what he says and uses too much force and is unkind. On page 49 he yells at Ponyboy for sleeping out in the vacant lot. He slaps Ponyboy and causes Ponyboy to run away. When Darry was a child no one ever hit each other in the family. This shows that the way the family ran has changes becuase of the death of their parents.

 The way Darry acts has entirely changed since the death of his parents.  Ponyboy speaks his opinion of Darry on page 51, "He didn't use to be like that…we used to get along okay…before Mom and Dad died. Now he just can't stand me. Darry is going through a lot of stress with two jobs and does not have much patience with Ponyboy. Towards the end of the book Darry creates respect for Ponyboy and does not yell. In the rumble Darry shows a lot of respect because he shows that he cares for Ponyboy.

In the beginning of the book Darry does not treat Ponyboy with respect. In the end he does. Ponyboy also is not afraid of Darry in the end of the book either. Darry’s respect for Ponyboy changed in the book making Darry a dynamic character. Even though Darry did not reach his dreams, at least he still has his family and has learned how to be a better parent -- and brother.