Noticed that Darry has the only actual solo song of the show (runs in the family) :^ all the others at least have ensemble parts in the back.
Dare I say it's symbolic of him being the only person without support?? He's the support beam for everyone else. He's there to stabilize their needs where they can't- like, he has an open door policy for greasers getting regularly kicked out of their homes or just not having a routine place to go?? He's paying for this house on his own, dropping out of college and working two jobs and barely getting any sleep at 20 years old, throwing everything to the side because his brothers need him.
But he has to watch his little brother run away, and two of his friends die, and a fight a rumble, and let Pony fight in that rumble, and upset Soda repeatedly
And it's all because he made a mistake.
Darry regrets slapping Ponyboy. It's one of those things that lingers, dark, in the back of his mind in the few hours he has to sleep. It's etched on the ceiling with how much he stares up, thinking about it, in the early hours of the day.
He's exhausted and worried and busy and just can't get a break.
But that's okay, because he'll push through if it means he's providing for his family, which now is more than just his brothers.