Things to keep in mind about Darry: -He drinks black coffee instead of chocolate milk -He looks like his father, but is wise and firm like his mother -Him and his father would often get mistaken for brothers. -He loves chocolate cake, and Ponyboy prefers his chocolate cakes to Soda’s -He engages in tickle wars with Sodapop and Ponyboy (not so icy cold when he’s tickling his brother awake, is he?) -He owns a copy of the Carpetbaggers (so we can assume that he probably does enjoy reading at least sometimes, but just doesn’t have time for it like he used too). -He was Captain of the football team, popular in school, and voted Boy of the Year. -He is smart (an academic like Ponyboy) -He won an athletic scholarship but it still wasn’t enough to allow him to go to college (which he was still likely determined to do before the accident). -He lightly greases his hair, but keeps it short -The other guys call him ‘Muscles’ or ‘Superman’ every now and then -He’s the unofficial leader of their ‘gang’ -He keeps the front door unlocked because he looks out for all the boys; he looks out for his own kind. (Call it irresponsible all you want, but this is a good argument for the fact that he is both compassionate, and unashamed of who he is). -He works two jobs at the age of 20; he’s forced to go from big brother to parent at the age of 20, though he has no experience in this role -BUT he CHOOSES to take care of his brothers instead of pursuing his own interests (because they are more important to him than anything else). -Ponyboy notes early on that his relationship with Darry suffered only after the accident when he slipped into his new role as guardian. (They used to get along well). -He doesn’t smoke -He works out at gyms -He doesn’t hesitate for a second to respond ‘yes’ when the judge asks him whether he was good friends with Dallas Winston -He didn’t cry at his parents funeral (because he felt he has to hold emotion in), but he cries when being reunited with Ponyboy. -He almost shattered Steve’s jaw when he called him “All brawn and no brain” and never forgave him for the comment (he never could get over not being able to pursue his dream of going to college). -Dally and Two-Bit try to defend him to Ponyboy, which shows they consider him a real buddy too. -He enjoys fights for the competition of it all -He’s never lost a fight. -Johnny and Ponyboy always get Darry on their team when the gang plays football together because he’s the best player
