Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

John Tyree is 23 and is a Special Forces Army Sergeant. He is returning home to Wilmington, North Carolina for a two week leave. John is on the beach when he comes across a young lady, Savannah Curtis. She has dropped her bag into the ocean and John dives in and gets it for her. For John, it is practically love at first sight. Savannah is a college student and during her summer is helping build houses with Habitat for Humanity in North Carolina. That night, Savannah takes John to a bonfire where he meets Tim Wheddon. He is an older man, his son is close with Savannah. His son is very young and has a mental problem. Soon enough, John and Savannah become really good friends and after that, they fall in love. It only takes two weeks for them to fall in love with eachother. Unfortunately, John's leave is up and Savannah has to return to UNC, her college. Before John leaves, Savannah suggests that John's father might be autistic. They get into a fight but make up before leaving eachother. As John is gone, Savannah and him right to eachother as much as they can. Savannah promises her love to John while he is away. Unfortunately September 11, 2001 happens. John feels that it is his duty to reenlist in the army and fight for his country. Savannah is upset because she feels like she can no longer wait for John. She sends him a note while he is away. She ends things with him and says she has met someone. John does not know what to do, he is so upset and burns all of her letters. John gets shot while fighting and has to return home. His father falls ill and sadly dies. John really has nobody anymore. He decides to go and see Savannah. She is married to Tim Wheddon, he has cancer and really needed Savannah to help take care of his son. Tim is dying and tells John that she still loves him and she has never looked at Tim the way shes looked at John. You'll have to read the rest to find out what else happens.

1. If your loved one was going away to the army, would you end the relationship or hope for the best?
2. Do you think it was shallow of Savannah to break up with John, even after she promised her devotion and love to him?
3. If you were John, would you have reenlisted in the army. Remember he made a promise to marry Savannah, so would you leave and be with your loved one or fight for your country?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

1. If I really loved someone I would stay in the relationship and hope for the best. I would not want to end the relationship and risk not seeing eachother anymore.

2. I do think it was shallow of Savannah to break up with John because she did not tell him why she did it in the first place. He had to go see her to find out.

Natesa W. 7-8 said...

1. I would stay in the relationship. If I really loved him, I could wait. I would use our love and letters to keep hope for the future. The pain now would be worth it when we could be together later.
2. It wasn't shallow, she was just heart broken. He promised to stay with her and then said he was leaving again. She did not know what to do and acted on impulse.

Madi Y 7-8 said...

1. I would stay in the relationship with someone even if they were in the army. If the person meant that much to me it would be worth it. Even if it may be hard for awhile. It will be easier in the future.
2. I don't think it was shallow that she broke up with him. I think she did what her heart told her to do when a new oppertunity for love came along.
3. I think I would keep my promise to my loved one.

Sarah N. 7-8 said...

1. I think that it would be difficult to watch someone you love go to war, but if you really love them you would wait.

2. I think it was hard for Savannah to only hope and wait for John's return, because she only knew him for a short while. I think that she really broke up with him, because it was hard to wait and she needed someone to fill the whole when John left. I don't know if it was shallow, but just circumstances.

Ashley B. 1-2 said...

1) I would wait for them to come back. If truly was love, and meant to be then it will find its way. It would be hard while the loved one is away at war, but it would be well worth it when it all is over.

Unknown said...

1. I would hope for nothing but the best if I was truely in love with him.

2.I think it was silly for Savannah to do that to John because he was so helpless.

3. I would probably leave because I knew I made a promise to my loved one and I would follow through with it.

Nicole H. 7-8 said...

1) If I really was in love with someone, I would not break up with them if they left to go to the army. No amount of distance between my loved one and I could make me love them any less as long as they promised they would come back to me. I would hope for the best of coarse.

Ashlyn W. 7-8 said...

1. If it was true love, I would wait for him to get back. Just because he is going into the army, doesn't mean I would end the relationship. I would hope for the best and wait until he came back.

Sydney M 7-8 said...

I agree with you guys about question 1, if you really loved someone you would stay with them. Even if they were going to the army, your feelings for them wouldn't change if you truely loved them.

Laura P 7-8 said...

1.) I agree that if I really loved someone that I wouldn't end the relationship, because that would be an extremely horrible thing to do if you really cared about someone.

Sydney S. 1-2 said...

1. I agree and would stay in the relationship. If you really loved someone, you would stay with them and wait for them.

2. I think that it was a bit shallow of Savannah to break up with him. Even thought she was lonely and heart-broken, I think that if she truely loved John she could have waited.

3. I don't know what I would do in this situation. I probably would keep the promise to my loved one. But on the other hand, you could always get married once you return the second time. But like I said, I'm not sure. This is a hard one to answer when not in the situation.

Megan M 1-2 said...

1. I would have to end the relationship, because no matter how much I cared for the person, and how much breaking up would hurt, it would hurt so much more if we were still together while he was at the army where he could get killed. However either way is a bad situation because I would still be devestated if he was killed even if we had broken up.
2. I do not think it was shallow, but she was still just looking out for herself. She could still write letters to him and keep in contanct so he could survive while away and have someone to talk to, but I think Savannah just couldn't deal with the hardships of him being away at war.

Avi D. 7/8 said...

1. I would have to agree with Megan. I would most definitely end the relationship because there could and must be someone out there who is just as good if not better. I could not deal with the loss of a loved one after waiting for so long.

2. No it was not. She did what she wanted to do. Its her life and she has the right to change her mind about anything.

3. America is based upon individualistic ideals. I would go back with Savannah if I wanted to. Or go to war if I wanted to. I would feel no reason to be tied down to one choice. I as an individual have my own choices.

Sydney M 7-8 said...

1. As much as I see your point Megan and Avi, I think that if you really loved someone you would stay with them, even if they were to get hurt. I think it would hurt you and them more if you ended it just because you were scared of them dying.