Opposites attract, right? This is a common theme in movies, books, or TV shows. There's always that odd couple who find friendship despite their differences. Johnny Cade and Dallas Winston fall into that category. Although Johnny and Dallas from SE Hinton's The Outsiders are each other, they are close friends. Johnny and Dally have major differences but significant similarities. Johnny and Dally are similar in many ways. For example, Johnny and Dally both have neglectful parents. Dally was part of a gang in the wilds of New York. He was even arrested at the age of 10. If Dally's parents had taken care of him as they should, Dally would not have hung out with a gang as a child. The first and only time Dally mentions his parents, he says, “'Man, my old man doesn't care if I'm in prison or dead in a car crash or drunk in the slums. This doesn't bother me'” (88). Clearly, Dally doesn't care about his parents and his parents certainly show no concern for their son. Dally doesn't even have a permanent home. Every night he stops at his friends' house. If his parents didn't neglect him, he could sleep in his own bed. Likewise, Johnny also has parents who despise him. For example, Johnny is constantly abused at home. He would rather sleep in a vacant lot, vulnerable to a Socs attack, than return home. Describing Johnny, Ponyboy says, "His father always hit him and his mother ignored him" (12). Evidently, Johnny is ignored and mistreated by his parents. His parents don't love him and constantly hurt him. Ponyboy even admits that: “If it weren't for the gang, Johnny would never have known what love and affection are” (12). His... middle of paper... a completely different character. Johnny is the most law-abiding of the gang. He has absolutely no history with the police. He is described as polite, kind, polite, and even fearful of his own shadow. He is shy, quiet and rarely speaks. Even when he got into trouble, he decided to turn himself in and admit it. Johnny made the decision: "'We'll go back and turn ourselves in'" (87). Certainly Johnny is diligent and conscientious. In summary, Johnny and Dally have major differences. While Johnny and Dally have a fair amount of similarities, they also have many differences. Both have neglectful parents and do not value their lives. However, they have distinctive differences in their philosophies about Ponyboy and their personalities. Despite their differences, they truly care about each other. They are contrasts but develop a bond with their similarities.