The Outsiders Group

Question:

lilo505
lilo505
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In The Outsiders, why do you think Dally would have wanted to die?

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Posted by lilo505 on Tuesday December 18, 2007 at 3:38 PM and tagged with characters, dally, the outsiders.

Answers:


  1. dymatsuoka

    eNotes Editor

    People like Dally who wear an extremely tough-guy demeanor are protecting themselves fiercely from getting hurt.  If they don't care about anything or don't let anyone get close to them, then nothing can cause them harm.  As Ponyboy realizes, Dally only loved one person in his life - Johnny - and when Johnny died, "he couldn't take it", and the Greasers knew that he was "gonna blow up". Dally loved Johnny as he would love a brother, or a child; Johnny's vulnerability and innocence brought out something noble in him, and when Johnny died Dally was left with a huge void and tumultuous feelings he had no idea how to deal with.  When Dally was shot down in a hail of police bullets, he had "a look of grim triumph on his face", and Ponyboy knew that death was what Dally wanted (Chapter 10).

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    Posted by dymatsuoka on Tuesday December 18, 2007 at 5:01 PM

  2. ahowland81
    ahowland81 Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    well with someone as tough like dally, he did not let anyone get close and personal to him so he will not get hurt.but one 16 year old boy named Johnny was the one who did get close to dally and when he died he was not able to take all this mentally. so he was going to blow up or lose it. he treated Johnny like a real brother or sibling and really brokedown to this matter/situation.so he thought why am i living because the only one i love is dead. so he goes robs the store and gets himself killed because everybody knows he gets everything he wants. and when pony saw dally's grin he knew dally wanted his death.

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    Posted by ahowland81 on Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 7:13 PM

  3. wanksta
    wanksta Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    cos he was vewee siwy

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    Posted by wanksta on Sunday August 10, 2008 at 1:54 AM

  4. canyousee67
    canyousee67 Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    I dicussed this is my class. Not only did he die because of Johnny, but it was also because of his future. Dally had the worst criminal record. He had nowhere to go in his life. If he didn't die then his future would be bad.He would have no job,probably be in jail, and not purpose for life. This is the MAIN reason he killed himself.He brought the police men to kill him, if he wanted to stay alive he wouldn't have pulled out and UNLOADED gun. Does this help?

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    Posted by canyousee67 on Wednesday October 28, 2009 at 9:04 PM

  5. vampcat
    vampcat Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    see Johnny died and Dally could not hande. Johnny was one of the only things that was so important to Dally. Because johnny pasted on Dally  had a milt down and completelyover reacted(in my opinion).He would have been fine if he wasn't so "grrrrr" ageistthe world. he also saw his future with out johnny, and saw all the bad things he would do, he also saw his past and every thing he did.

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    Posted by vampcat on Friday November 6, 2009 at 6:48 PM