One difference is that they have different opinions on whether or not Ponyboy should change. For example, Johnny tells Ponyboy to stay innocent, kind and just the way he is. In the letter that Johnny leaves behind for Pony, he speaks of Pony’s fondness of sunsets and says, “That’s gold. Keep that way, it’s a good way to be” (178). Johnny does not want Ponyboy to become harsh and cruel like Dally and this is very apparent in his letter. Unlike Johnny, Dally tells Pony a very different message; to toughen up. Dally believes that if Pony toughens up and grows cold, he will be better off. This is obvious when Dally says to Pony, “‘You’d better wise up, Pony… you get tough like me and you don’t get hurt’” (147). Though Johnny wishes for Pony to always stay the way he is, Dally thinks that it would be better if Pony gets tough. Johnny and Dally both having different lessons to teach Ponyboy is a significant difference between
One difference is that they have different opinions on whether or not Ponyboy should change. For example, Johnny tells Ponyboy to stay innocent, kind and just the way he is. In the letter that Johnny leaves behind for Pony, he speaks of Pony’s fondness of sunsets and says, “That’s gold. Keep that way, it’s a good way to be” (178). Johnny does not want Ponyboy to become harsh and cruel like Dally and this is very apparent in his letter. Unlike Johnny, Dally tells Pony a very different message; to toughen up. Dally believes that if Pony toughens up and grows cold, he will be better off. This is obvious when Dally says to Pony, “‘You’d better wise up, Pony… you get tough like me and you don’t get hurt’” (147). Though Johnny wishes for Pony to always stay the way he is, Dally thinks that it would be better if Pony gets tough. Johnny and Dally both having different lessons to teach Ponyboy is a significant difference between