Does Dally want to die?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Maybe
• D. Not specified

Answer: (A)

When you read a character’s inner state, you look for clues in actions and choices rather than explicit statements. Dally’s arc shows that his tougher exterior isn’t just bravado; after Johnny dies, his behavior shifts from hardened independence to a reckless pursuit of danger. He pushes himself into situations that could end in violence or death and seems to accept that end as a possible outcome. This pattern—letting grief and a sense of emptiness drive him toward life-threatening risk—points to a desire to die, or at least a readiness to escape the pain he can’t bear. The fact that his final moments come at the hands of the police reinforces that interpretation: his actions leading up to that moment align with choosing a path that ends in death rather than continuing to live with the loss of Johnny. In short, the text supports the conclusion that he wanted to die, more than any alternative reading.