Dear John & Tragedy

Nicholas Sparks uses a common pattern throughout all of his tales, a pattern that usually ends in tragedy, in order to cut across the things such as class, race, and gender--the things that divide us--and to argue that Spark’s uses these things to bring people together.

While it is obvious that Sparks’ uses similar patterns, techniques, and themes to write his tales, it should not take away from what is happening beneath the surface. Sparks is also aware of his repetitive patterns yet he has written countless stories using this exact pattern. “Dear John” is no exception to this pattern.

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.

From all walks of life, every race, every age, and gender has experienced or has been touched by one of those aspects at some point in their life. Sparks does this intentionally and strategically to cut across all boundaries and differences to keep a sense of realism.