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Comparing Johnny And Dally In 'The Outsiders'

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Two characters, Johnny and Dally, from The Outsiders may seem like their different at first look, and some parts of them are. Dally is a big fighter, while Johnny is not. Although there are some similarities within the two. One of these would be that they both come from abusive homes. Despite what it may seem, these two may not be what they might seem. Both Johnny and Dally come from abusive homes, which would mean that their parents would not care about them, whether they were in jail for illegal acts or even dead. As Dally had said, “‘Shoot, my old man don’t give a hang if whether I’m in jail or dead in a car wreck or drunk in the gutter,’” (88). Dally’s father was not too physically abusive, unlike Johnny’s father who would beat Johnny whenever his father was drunk. “‘I think i like it better when the old man’s hittin’ me,’ Johnny sighed. ‘At least then I know he knows who I am,’” (51). Likewise, johnny’s mother would not pay any attention to him unless she was angry and wanted something. Dally had only spoken once of his father, and not at all of his mother. From what the boys have said about their parents and household lives, they both come from abusive homes which changed who they are. Johnny and Dally are similar in more than just the fact that they have abusive home lives. Both Dally and Johnny care for each other, and it is hard to come across someone that Dally will truly care for. Dally is not the type of person to care. Dally even says something to Johnny

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