Comparison between Johnny Cade and Dallas Winston

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How can two people whose personalities are so diverse have so much in common? Both are teens who view the world very differently. One believes the world is filled with hatred but the other still sees good in it. In the novel The Outsiders written by S.E Hinton such characters exist and appear to be foils of each other. However, if a closer look is taken these two characters have a lot in common as well. Dally Winston and Johnny Cade are the two characters. Dally and Johnny have a lot in common despite having different views of the world. For instance, neither of these characters place much value in their lives. Johnny Cade is a sullen looking sixteen year-old who feels as though he has nothing to live for. He even writes a note to Ponyboy stating, “ Listen, I don’t mind dying now. It’s worth it. It’s worth saving those kids. Their lives are worth more than mine, they have more to live for. Some of their parents came by to thank me and I know it was worth it” (178). Johnny thinks that his life is worth less than everyone elses because of the way he is treated. Similarly, Dallas does not place much value on his life and is even willing to take his own life. Ponyboy thinks,”He was dead before he hit the ground. But I knew that was what he wanted,...because Dally Winston wanted to be dead and he always got what he wanted” (154). Dallas wanted to be dead because he thought he had nothing left to hold on to. Another way Johnny and Dally are the alike is they both have parents who do not give them the attention they need. Dally’s parents do not care about his where abouts. Dally said,” Shoot, my old man don’t give a hang whether I’m in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter” (88). Clearly, his parents do not care if ... ... middle of paper ... ...the problems are alike they produced two very different personalities. Dally is mean and tough and believes the world is full of hate. However, Johnny is polite, quiet and shy. They are two teens who view the world in very different ways.

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