Dally and Johnny
Often, people who seem to be opposites are not so different at all. Throughout The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton proves this, but never as well as with Johnny and Dally. Although they come from similarly abusive households and care immensely about the other, the characters have very different philosophies. They have different outlooks on the law, and the world in general. Despite their differences, Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade have many similarities. Neither Johnny nor Dally come from loving households. Because his house is not a place in which he can stay, Dally sleeps wherever he can. Throughout the book, he never mentions his mother, and he talks about his father only once during the story. From a young age, Dally …show more content…
When Johnny asks about his own parents, Dally says his father pays no attention to whether he is “‘in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter’” (88). His parents are neglectful, but he seems to not care about it. Johnny’s parents are also neglectful, but he still wants them to care. His father beats him, but he says he likes that more than when his mother yells at him. Although Ponyboy says that “you could hear her yelling clear down at our house,” (12), Johnny would rather his father hit him: at least when that happens, he explains, he knows that his father is aware that he is there. Johnny wishes his parents cared about him while Dally resigns himself to their indifference, but their similar home lives bring them together. Though neither of them care much about their families, Johnny and Dally both care about the other more than anyone else. Early …show more content…
Following the rules would ruin Dally’s reputation, and he breaks laws just for fun, just to remind people that no one is in charge of him. Even with the money to pay to get into the drive in, Dally makes a point of not doing so, and instead sneaks in to watch. Ponyboy says of him, “Dally hated to do things the legal way” (20). His apathy towards law leads him to a very bad reputation with the police. On the other hand, Johnny has no record with the police, to the point where he is willing to turn himself in for killing Bob. This absolute certainty that they will not be as harsh on him as they would on someone like Dally is reasonable, as Ponyboy describes him as “... the most law abiding of us…” (34). Unlike Dally, Johnny tries not to be noticed by anyone, and the only weapon he carries is one used for self defense because he is afraid of being jumped by the Socs again. While Dally uses the law as a status symbol and something to overcome, Johnny tries to avoid conflict by not doing anything that goes against
Often, people who seem to be opposites are not so different at all. Throughout The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton proves this, but never as well as with Johnny and Dally. Although they come from similarly abusive households and care immensely about the other, the characters have very different philosophies. They have different outlooks on the law, and the world in general. Despite their differences, Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade have many similarities. Neither Johnny nor Dally come from loving households. Because his house is not a place in which he can stay, Dally sleeps wherever he can. Throughout the book, he never mentions his mother, and he talks about his father only once during the story. From a young age, Dally …show more content…
When Johnny asks about his own parents, Dally says his father pays no attention to whether he is “‘in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter’” (88). His parents are neglectful, but he seems to not care about it. Johnny’s parents are also neglectful, but he still wants them to care. His father beats him, but he says he likes that more than when his mother yells at him. Although Ponyboy says that “you could hear her yelling clear down at our house,” (12), Johnny would rather his father hit him: at least when that happens, he explains, he knows that his father is aware that he is there. Johnny wishes his parents cared about him while Dally resigns himself to their indifference, but their similar home lives bring them together. Though neither of them care much about their families, Johnny and Dally both care about the other more than anyone else. Early …show more content…
Following the rules would ruin Dally’s reputation, and he breaks laws just for fun, just to remind people that no one is in charge of him. Even with the money to pay to get into the drive in, Dally makes a point of not doing so, and instead sneaks in to watch. Ponyboy says of him, “Dally hated to do things the legal way” (20). His apathy towards law leads him to a very bad reputation with the police. On the other hand, Johnny has no record with the police, to the point where he is willing to turn himself in for killing Bob. This absolute certainty that they will not be as harsh on him as they would on someone like Dally is reasonable, as Ponyboy describes him as “... the most law abiding of us…” (34). Unlike Dally, Johnny tries not to be noticed by anyone, and the only weapon he carries is one used for self defense because he is afraid of being jumped by the Socs again. While Dally uses the law as a status symbol and something to overcome, Johnny tries to avoid conflict by not doing anything that goes against