Similar Characters with Different Personalities Social Structures: they are ubiquitous. They affect every individual person’s lifestyle and mindset. They make similar characters similar and different characters different. But what about the characters that have many similarities as well as differences? In The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton there are many such characters. One pair is Dallas “Dally” Winston and Johnny Cade. Dally and Johnny have a special friendship with each other and part of what makes their friendship so special is how they both are similar, yet different. Johnny and Dally are similar because they both have delinquent and abusive families. Despite them having these similarities, they also have many differences including Johnny
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One difference is how Johnny is very law-abiding and rule following while Dally is a well-known criminal and can never do things the legal way. Dallas “Dally” Winston has many problems in his life and they all lead him to being a fugitive. His reputation is so bad and severe, Ponyboy himself, though they are part of the same gang, is scared of him. For example, Ponyboy narrates, “His eyes were blue, blazing ice, cold with hatred for the whole world. Dally had spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested at the age of ten. He was tougher than the rest of us - tougher, colder, meaner” (10). Ponyboy Curtis explains how every greaser has their good and bad days, but are never cruel and mean like they are stereotyped as. Dally, on the other hand, has all those traits plus more. Near the end of the book, before he dies, Dally steals from a shop. This shows how he does not even have to plan an attempt. He is so skilled at getting exactly what he wants that he receives it effortlessly. This includes his undeniable talent for thievery and getting away with it. A reason for this is that Dally has been on his own for so long now, he has adapted to the harsh environments outside of his nonexistent home. This has given him years of practice, something almost nobody of his age has experienced in this subject of matter. On the other hand, Johnny is one of the most obedient and compliant member of the gang, if not of most greasers out there. This is very good and convenient for him, as he has a clean record and has almost zero chance of getting in trouble with the police. That is, until he unintentionally kills Bob Sheldon, a Soc. While he may be terrified of getting caught for his manslaughter, he is not as frightened as expected. He mentions to Ponyboy and Dally, “‘I got a good chance of bein’ let off easy. I ain’t got no record with the fuzz and it was
One difference is how Johnny is very law-abiding and rule following while Dally is a well-known criminal and can never do things the legal way. Dallas “Dally” Winston has many problems in his life and they all lead him to being a fugitive. His reputation is so bad and severe, Ponyboy himself, though they are part of the same gang, is scared of him. For example, Ponyboy narrates, “His eyes were blue, blazing ice, cold with hatred for the whole world. Dally had spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested at the age of ten. He was tougher than the rest of us - tougher, colder, meaner” (10). Ponyboy Curtis explains how every greaser has their good and bad days, but are never cruel and mean like they are stereotyped as. Dally, on the other hand, has all those traits plus more. Near the end of the book, before he dies, Dally steals from a shop. This shows how he does not even have to plan an attempt. He is so skilled at getting exactly what he wants that he receives it effortlessly. This includes his undeniable talent for thievery and getting away with it. A reason for this is that Dally has been on his own for so long now, he has adapted to the harsh environments outside of his nonexistent home. This has given him years of practice, something almost nobody of his age has experienced in this subject of matter. On the other hand, Johnny is one of the most obedient and compliant member of the gang, if not of most greasers out there. This is very good and convenient for him, as he has a clean record and has almost zero chance of getting in trouble with the police. That is, until he unintentionally kills Bob Sheldon, a Soc. While he may be terrified of getting caught for his manslaughter, he is not as frightened as expected. He mentions to Ponyboy and Dally, “‘I got a good chance of bein’ let off easy. I ain’t got no record with the fuzz and it was