The Outsiders discussion

I'm not bringing this up to be crude or silly, it just occurred to me years after reading this book that Dally might have cared so much about Johnny and only Johnny because he was in love with him. Dally was the toughest, baddest greaser of them all, but he had a soft spot for Johnny and was so broken up over his death that it was implied that he went all crazy violent and eventually kamikazee because he couldn't handle the love of his life being killed. But what do you guys think?

I think you can feel like that for someone and not be in love with them, but love them. Dally considered Johnny like a brother and Johnny had a really bad family life as did Dally at his age. When you see yourself in someone you care about you want to protect them from what ruined you. Well, that's what I think anyway.

I loved this book. I had to read it as a school assignment ,but it turned out really good. Later I brought it for myself and reread it. Now that I think it though Dally did like Johnny an awful lot. but I don't know how to take that. Sorry I ain't no help!

Does it matter? This is one of those books that speaks to the young no matter what generation they are from. I don't think that Dally was gay, you can love someone of the same sex without it being a sexual love same as you can love someone of the opposite sex without wanting to jump their bones. Eogther way Dally suplied the love that was missing in Johnny's life at home.

i agree with virgina

Yo, I LOOOOOVE Dally and in no way was he gay, nor would he ever be. And yeah, I totally agree with Virginia too.

Chelsey wrote: "I'm not bringing this up to be crude or silly, it just occurred to me years after reading this book that Dally might have cared so much about Johnny and only Johnny because he was in love with him...."

Are you kidding me? Honestly. Dally I am CERTAIN was not gay. Dally needed someone to care about. Johnny was innocent and undercared for- desperatly needing a rolemodel or someone to look up to. Dally was the best option for that. It was a brotherly love- it was not gay!

I agree with the gal above me. Are you kidding me? Just because two people of the same sex care deeply about one another you automatically have to assume they're gay? That's ridiculous. Dally understood that his life was ruined by the same thing that was ruining Johnny's and wanted to protect him from it. He loved Johnny like one would his younger brother, nothing else.

I couldn't have said it better myself! :)

Thank you! I can't even believe this discussion was even made.

I know!
lol, I have an Outsiders RP if you wanna join. :)

I'd have to say that since the writer was aiming it towards children of the younger generation, when they aren't too sure who they are or stand for, she meant for it to be open to thought. Maybe Dally was gay and maybe he was straight. I think that's for the reader to decide, I doubt it was set in stone because I'm certain the author would have clarified specific feelings between Dally and Johnny. Instead she left it open so that people with a wide range of thoughts and beliefs could take from the novel what they wanted. Whether Dally was gay or not is open to question, but I think that's what she wanted.

I don't really agree to it but, I respect it. *nods* I can deal with that...

I understand where you're coming from, however, when this book was written in the 1960's gayness wasn't as accepted as it is today. It hardly ever came up and I doubt it even crosse S.E. Hinton's mind when she was writing t.

Then maybe it was unintentional, but it provided that outlook all the same. Whether the author intended it or not I think it's fine that a reader is able to take whatever they want from the story, so long as it broadens their views of a teenagers perspective. I don't see Dally as gay either, don't get me wrong, but I really think that whatever a reader takes from it is what they take from it, and the author has no power over that, let alone what we may write about in this discussion.

No, I don't think that he liked Johnny in that kind of fashion. You can really care for someone, love them, but not that kind love, and still react that way Dally did.

No, dude.

In hindsight I can see this being a possiblity! As someone mentioned earlier homosexuality was not accepted in the 1960's so it would not be mentioned. Either way it is an amazing story of life lived on the edge, love, friendship, and loss.

no i dont

I don't think so I think that Dally and Johnny were only friends

only friends nothing more

I see where that one girl is coming from when she says there was a LOTof room to guess. It never said they' were only friends, and the reader is always allowed an oppinion. I do not agree that they were gay for each other. The thought probably never even crossed Hinton's mind because gay was so unrespected to the point that it was practically shunned.
The idea that these kids are gay was unthinkable in the 1960's. Unless it states in print that they are gay, they most likely weren't meant to be.

its a good book

well maybe he was gay for him... but it didn't throw off too much signs so i wouldn't assume.. i think he thought of him as a younger brothers thats why

Like I said, it's open to the reader's opinion so no matter.

I think the strength of Dally's feelings for Johnny centered around the fact that Dally felt protective of him. Dally was a hard person who had learned early in life that any sort of an attachment to someone else was a weakness. Johnny's role as the group's harmless pet probably allowed Dally to feel comfortable enough to relate to Johnny in a different way than his usual defensiveness. Dally could put his bottled up capacity for love and caring into that one person, and when that one person died, Dally saw no reason to live anymore.
I don't think sex or physical attraction had much to do with their relationship. So my vote would be "no".

Wow, meaningful post Mickey. I agree. :)

Yes, definently.

No, I just think he is nice to him!!!:)

this was so good! we read it in a book club im in(: Be JeaLouS!

I just finished this book recently. I can definitely see where you're coming from with the latent homosexuality angle, LOL! Some of the dialogue made me say "hmmm?" as well. But I had to remember this was written & set in a different time period than today's world. Back then people said and behaved a certain way (men especially) and it wouldn't necessarily have the same connotations as they would today. That's my take anyways...

I think Dallas cared for Johnny as a little brother. IMO the only family he had. I always thought that the circumstances of Johnny's death contributed to Dallas' mental breakdown. If something so tragic could happen to someone as "good" as Johnny then what hope is there for him?

haha! no way! he was just dally's only reminder if the good in the world- and the gold. but omg is he cute or what?! i think dally's so hot!

Saraharnold wrote: "haha! no way! he was just dally's only reminder if the good in the world- and the gold. but omg is he cute or what?! i think dally's so hot!"

The character or Matt Dillon? lol

Louveda wrote: "I think Dallas cared for Johnny as a little brother. IMO the only family he had. I always thought that the circumstances of Johnny's death contributed to Dallas' mental breakdown. If something so t..."

Omg, I like how you worded that last part. :D lol It just kinda... idk lol I just saw that connection.

Chelsey wrote: "I'm not bringing this up to be crude or silly, it just occurred to me years after reading this book that Dally might have cared so much about Johnny and only Johnny because he was in love with him...."

That's a really interesting idea...I haven't read the book in a while so I'll have to look back through it. Maybe if I reread the book my opinion will change, but I don't think that he was. I think that Dally was a really messed up guy, and one of the only things that he cared about was his friends, especially Johnny. I think that for him, Johnny was everything that he wished he could be. Innocent, pure. Dally had gotten screwed up a long time ago, and he had never really retained the kind nature that Johnny retained. Although, it is very possible that Dally was in love with Johnny....hmm...must reread! Good point :)

Louveda wrote: "Saraharnold wrote: "haha! no way! he was just dally's only reminder if the good in the world- and the gold. but omg is he cute or what?! i think dally's so hot!"

The character or Matt Dillon? lol"

matt dillon. well i guess both ....no i dont like the idea of committing suicide haha

harryronhermione wrote: "Chelsey wrote: "I'm not bringing this up to be crude or silly, it just occurred to me years after reading this book that Dally might have cared so much about Johnny and only Johnny because he was i..."

i like what you said about that...

Chelsey wrote: "I'm not bringing this up to be crude or silly, it just occurred to me years after reading this book that Dally might have cared so much about Johnny and only Johnny because he was in love with him...."

i totally agree with you and your inquiry

They were gay????

I never really thought about this angle in the book...Dally probably cared about Johnny because he saw a little bit of him in Johnny...Both of them come from bad family lives...The only Greasers that had decent family lives were Darry, Sodapop, & Ponyboy, but their parents were deceased...Loved the book and the movie...Matt Dillon is still hot after all these years. RIP Patrick Swayze...

I have never thought of it that way but that could be the reason.

no.

Iyana wrote: "I think they were all gay for eachother"

You're gay for yourself...

I loves Johnny.

That's an interesting way to look at it. I don't think S.E. Hinton wrote it that way, but honestly a lot of them *did* come off as being gay. Really I think that they were all just really good, close friends. That's how gangs were back then, I think.

No. I think Dally loved Johnny because Johnny cared about Dally the way no one else had ever done. It was a mutual respect type of love; not gay love.

Though I love this book, I have to agree with Amy on this one. Dally did love Johnny because Johnny cared for him like no other person would. That's pure love, loyalty, and friendship. Maybe Johnny knew something about Dally that we didn't read on yet, and could have had the same experience on it. Just because Dally loved Johnnny that much doesn't mean that he is gay.

Back then it meant something different.

Like I said, it's open to opinions. It's probably more mean and stereotypical to keep a closed mind on the subject than the possibility that they could have been close like brothers or more, who knows. Then again, I haven't read that book in around three years, so I have no idea, but it's always good to leave all options open either way.