What would be a stereotype for Dallas from The Outsiders?

In S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, the character of Dallas Winston is stereotypical of everything that society thinks is representative of what it means to be a greaser. From society's point of view, Dallas is a young man who has no family; he's a juvenile delinquent who has done time in jail, he drinks, he smokes, he fights, etc. The interesting thing about Dallas is that S.E. Hinton never uses direct characterization to tell readers that he is a stereotypical greaser. Like the society around him, readers gather this information about Dallas through his actions as the story unfolds. Readers, however, get the chance to see the softer side of Dallas Winston on multiple occasions when he helps Ponyboy and Johnny. Despite the fact that Dallas does multiple things to help the boys, including trying to save Johnny from the burning church, he would not be remembered by society as a hero.
Ponyboy highlights this when he says in chapter 10:

But I remembered Dally pulling Johnny through the window of the burning church; Dally giving us his gun, although it could mean jail for him; Dally risking his life for us, trying to keep Johnny out of trouble; And now he was a dead juvenile delinquent and there wouldn't be any editorials in his favor. Dally didn't die a hero. He died violent and young and desperate, just like we all knew he'd die someday. . . (Hinton 131)


One possible stereotype for Dallas Winston is that of an ignorant, teenage criminal. Given Dally's criminal background and questionable life choices, one could view Dally as a heartless, ignorant person with no future. Even Ponyboy at the begging of the novel does not fully understand or perceive Dally's complex nature. In reality, Dallas Winston is a confused young man who has lived a difficult life without many of the advantages and opportunities that other children his age have been given. Essentially, Dallas was forced to become a callous, aggressive individual in order to survive on the streets and in jail. Without a supporting, loving family, Dallas was forced to fend for himself at a young age, which meant that he had to steal, gamble, and participate in illegal activities to make money and provide for himself. Despite Dally's unfortunate circumstances, he is a loyal, gallant person, who is willing to risk his life to help his friends. Attributing the stereotype of a hopeless, ignorant teenage criminal does not accurately nor fairly describe Dallas Winston.  

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