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How would you describe the relationship between Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade in S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders?

Dally and Johnny have a unique relationship throughout the novel, and each of them displays mutual respect and admiration for one another. They both come from broken homes and Dally sees Johnny as a younger brother. Johnny looks up to Dally and views Dally as his hero. Johnny thinks Dally is a "gallant" individual because Dally selflessly sticks up for his friends in the most desperate situations.While Johnny openly voices his admiration for Dally,...

Dally and Johnny have a unique relationship throughout the novel, and each of them displays mutual respect and admiration for one another. They both come from broken homes and Dally sees Johnny as a younger brother. Johnny looks up to Dally and views Dally as his hero. Johnny thinks Dally is a "gallant" individual because Dally selflessly sticks up for his friends in the most desperate situations. While Johnny openly voices his admiration for Dally, Dally lets his actions depict his feelings for his friend. In chapter 6, Dally expresses his concern for Johnny after Johnny tells him he is going to turn himself into the police. Dally says, "you get hardened in jail. I don't want that to happen to you. Like it happened to me" (Hinton 76). Dally's comments portray his true feelings about Johnny and show he deeply cares about Johnny's well-being. Dally also risks his own life pulling Johnny's body from the burning church later in the chapter. When Johnny dies, Dally loses his mind because he lost the only person he truly loved.

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