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How does Darry treat Ponyboy in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton?

Darry is very strict, and Pony feels Darry does not understand him.


The Curtis brothers lost their parents to a car accident. Darry, the oldest brother, became the father figure. Still, Pony considers Soda more loving and caring than Darry. 



[Soda is] never hollering at me all the time the way Darry is, or treating me as if I was six instead of fourteen. I love Soda more than I've ever loved anyone, even Mom and Dad. He's always happy-go-lucky and grinning, while Darry's hard and firm and rarely grins at all (Chapter 1).



Pony’s relationship with Darry is strained because Darry feels the need to keep the family together, and therefore wants to make sure Pony and Soda toe the line. Darry is particularly hard on Pony because he is the youngest. Soda has already quit school, but Darry wants to make sure Pony gets good grades and stays out of trouble. 


Things come to a head when Pony comes home late and Darry gets really worried. Darry hits Pony, prompting Pony to run away. This is what leads him to be out so late at night in the park with Johnny when they get into the fight that leads to Bob's death. 


Later, when Pony returns, he realizes how much Darry cares about him. Their relationship starts to mend itself.  Darry is more affectionate, calling Pony a pet name. 



"Maybe you can be a little neater, huh, little buddy?"


He'd never called me that before. Soda was the only one he ever called "little buddy."


"Sure," I said, "I'll be more careful" (Chapter 11). 



Pony is willing to give Darry the benefit of the doubt a little bit more. He does not want his family to be separated. He believes that, despite their differences, Darry is a good guardian, and the most important thing is that the Curtis brothers stay together.

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