Analyze how Johnny compares Dally to the old Southern gentlemen in Gone With the Wind, the novel Ponyboy is reading. Argue whether Johnny’s comment stating Dally’s actions were gallant or not. Defend your answer with evidence from the story.
Johnny considers Dally to be wild and free. Dally lives on his own terms and Johnny finds this romantic. The gallantry of the Southern gentlemen in the book, who rode to their certain deaths bravely, inspires Johnny to think about how Dally also breaks convention. Johnny dies helping children from a fire and he wants to see Dally in the same light. Dally's death is on his own terms but not in the altruistic way that Johnny had hoped for. I think that Johnny's artistic interpretation of Dally brings him comfort in his last moments.
