Tragedy to Bring People Together

Rating: 9/10 (22 April 2016)

Nicholas Sparks uses a pattern of tragedy throughout his movies to pull people together and cut across all differences. Every single person in this world has at some point experienced some form of heartbreak and tragedy whether that be through cancer, death, a heartbreak from a lover, or illness.
"Dear John" is no exception to this pattern. The two fall in love, become separated by John getting deployed to help with 9/11 and by the time he comes back she is already married to someone else. Of course though they are still in love. John makes a big decision to help pay for Savannah's husband's treatment when he is diagnosed with cancer even though John would have liked to be the one to end up with her. John and Savannah do not end up together. Despite heartbreak and tragedy the theme remains the same.
However, it is to make the point that heartbreak and tragedy are very real and occur in real lives. It is not his point to make an unrealistic tale of love and bliss but rather of love and real life. His point is to make that when you fall in love things may not all work out.