Ponyboy believes that Darry does not love him because he is often hard on him and strict with him. Darry frequently yells at Ponyboy and gets angry with him, which makes Ponyboy feel unloved and unappreciated. Additionally, Ponyboy feels like Darry is always comparing him to their deceased parents and expecting him to live up to their standards, which only adds to his feelings of inadequacy. Overall, Ponyboy struggles to see how Darry truly cares for him because of his tough love approach.
