Character Analysis: The Outsiders By S. E. Hinton

When people think of someone in their family who provides for them many think of their mom or dad. Although, that is not always the case. Darry is the older brother and provider to Sodapop Curtis and Ponyboy Curtis in the book The Outsiders written by S.E. Hinton. Darry’s parents died in a car accident so he was left raising his two younger brothers, which are sixteen and fourteen. Although Darry can be harsh, he still cares deeply about his brothers and their lives. Darry Curtis is a very caring individual but has a hard outer layer that many readers can identify with. Through Darry’s hard work, responsibility, and athleticism he provides for his family. To begin with, Darry is very hardworking. He has two jobs and works all the time. Many times in the book he cannot go out with his friends because he has to work the next day. “Darry sighs. just like I knew he would. Darry never had time to do anything anymore.”(Hinton, 14). To his group of friends he is known as “Muscles” or “Superman”(S.E. Hinton, 109). One of his jobs is roofing houses. Even at his jobs he is always pushing himself and Ponyboy

When he was in Highschool he was an excellent student and an even better football player. He is six-feet-two and very muscular. Darry was super popular in Highschool and had many friends. “He was captain of the football team and he had been voted Boy of the year. But we just didn't have the money for him to go to college, even with the athletic scholarship he won”(Hinton, 16). Along with his athleticism, he was one of the smartest in his class. Darry cared about his grades and wanted to go to college. He is proud of his intelligence and let his friend know when his friend called him “all brawn and no brain”(Hinton, 109). Darry uses his strength and abilities to defend his brothers. They live in a rough neighborhood and safety is Darry's number one worry. Darry’s athleticism allows him and his brothers to live a safer