The Outsiders Comparison Essay

It is unthinkable for two dissimilar characters to have so many connections, but can it happen? S.E. Hinton certainly puts this claim to the test with her novel The Outsiders. Two characters, Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade, seem to be vastly unalike at first glance, but despite their differences, they also have similarities. They are similar because they both have abusive parents and they both care about each other. However, Dally and Johnny have opposite personalities and different views about laws. Consequently, Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade are tremendously different, while so alike at the same time.
Though Johnny and Dally may seem like polar opposites, they do have significant similarities, one of which is that they both have neglectful, abusive parents. For example, Dally is a hoodlum who is most likely influenced by

To start, Dally has never known love and affection. Johnny’s “pet of the gang” quality makes him “the only thing Dally loved” (152). Even though Dally has the gang, it is obvious that Johnny is the only one he truly cares for. He treats Johnny as if he is a little brother because Johnny may be the closest thing to family that Dally has ever known. Throughout the years, both Dally and Johnny’s lack of family have led them to an unbreakable bond that unifies them together. Similarly, Johnny feels the same way about Dally. Johnny sees Dally as someone that he can look up to and Ponyboy notices how “Johnny worshiped the ground Dallas walked on” (25). While Dally sees Johnny as somewhat of a scared, little kid, the role reverses for Johnny as he sees Dally as a gallant adult. Even though Dally is basically a god to Johnny, they are still both very close and feel the love for each other. While there do seem to be resemblances between Dally and Johnny, like how they both show love for the other person, there are still enormous differences between the two