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"The real character of the gang," Dally was arrested his first time at the age of ten. He spent three years on the "wild side" of New York and likes to blow off steam in gang fights. He is the most dangerous member of the bunch—not even Darry wants to tangle with him—but he is still a part of their greaser "family." The local police have a large file on him, and he has just gotten out of jail at the opening of the novel. While "the fight for self-preservation had hardened him beyond caring," there are two things that have meaning for him; jockeying on...

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Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...

1. The Outsiders: Introduction
2. S. E. Hinton Biography
3. Summary
4. Themes
5. Style
6. Historical Context
7. Critical Overview
8. Character Analysis
   1. Johnny Cade
   2. Darrel Curtis
   3. Ponyboy Curtis
   4. Dallas Winston
   5. Other Characters
9. Essays and Criticism
10. Compare and Contrast
11. Topics for Further Study
12. Media Adaptations
13. What Do I Read Next?
14. Bibliography and Further Reading
15. Pictures
16. Copyright

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