Who Is Darry In The Outsiders?

In The Outsiders, author S. E. Hinton introduces readers to Darry Curtis, the oldest of the three Curtis brothers and an important figure in the Greasers gang. Both he and his youngest brother, Ponyboy, dropped out of high school to support their other siblings after their father died. Darry works two jobs—one at a local garage and the other at a gas station—to help make ends meet. He is fiercely protective of his brothers, Ponyboy and Sodapop, as well as Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade, and often serves as a voice of reason among the group. Although he has a quick temper and can be prone to anger, Darry also exhibits fierce loyalty to those he cares for deeply; his good heart is evident in his interactions with both friends and enemies within the novel’s storyline. He dates a girl from a rival gang, and is involved in a violent rumble with them. He is one of the reasons for Ponyboy’s optimism about human nature. He is willing to put aside his differences with Johnny Cade, another Greaser, in order to save Ponyboy’s life when he is injured during the rumble. He is devastated when Johnny is killed in the rumble. He rejoices when Ponyboy returns home safe and sound after running away with Johnny’s sister, Two-Bit.