Final answer:
Johnny compares Dally to the Southern gentlemen in 'Gone with the Wind', recognizing Dally's hidden chivalry and honor. This reveals Johnny's depth of understanding and ability to empathize, compared to Ponyboy's more literal perspective.
Step-by-step explanation:
In S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders, Johnny compares Dally to the chivalrous Southern gentlemen depicted in Gone with the Wind. This comparison is intriguing since Dally is a rough and tumble member of the Greasers, yet, like the Southern gentlemen, he has a gallant side to him as displayed by his bravery and loyalty. Dally's sense of honor, his willingness to go to great lengths for those he cares about, and his personal code resemble the qualities admired in the genteel figures of the old South.
Johnny seeing this similarity between Dally and the Southern gentlemen indicates his deeper understanding of Dally's character, recognizing the duality within him. Ponyboy's inability to see this comparison highlights his more literal and straightforward way of thinking. It demonstrates Johnny's ability to empathize and see beyond someone's exterior, a quality that is unique to his sensitive nature.