Dear John
Your Dad Loves You, I Can Tell, Even If You Can’t
Jael Zimmerman
Westmoreland County Community College
Abstract
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks uses two main characters, John’s father and Tim’s brother Alan, to express the symptoms and complications of the psychological disorder Asperger Syndrome. This disorder is considered a form of autism. People with this disorder will be passionate about one or more topics, but will struggle with daily tasks. The novel provides an extended metaphor through John’s father through his obsessive interest in his coin collection, and is difficulty in forming a relationship and communicating with his son as he attempts to raise him on his own. Evidence from his routine schedule and his trouble in controlling feelings is compared to Savannah’s friend Alan, a boy actually diagnosed with the disorder as a child. Savannah uses her knowledge from her studies in college and experience with Alan to diagnose John’s father, and help him understand why he has acted this way through John’s entire life.
Your Dad Loves You, I Can Tell, Even If You Can’t
Nicholas Sparks incorporates psychological concepts of Autism and Asperger Syndrome that reveal evidence of their symptoms in one of his best selling love stories, the novel, Dear John. When John was a still a child, he picked up a coin one day and noticed a defect. He quickly showed it to his only family, his father, who became infatuated with it. They took it to get looked at by a professional who explained to them that John had luckily stumbled upon a rare and value Jefferson Mule. Sometimes accidently a penny impresses into a nickel, and producing this surprisingly valuable error coin. When John was still young he enjoyed the conversations over coins with his dad, but eventually as he got older, he grew tired of his father’s obsession. And, he found that without coins, there wasn’t much to talk about. Mr. Tyree attempted to raise John on his own, but he never really kept track of where John
Jael Zimmerman
Westmoreland County Community College
Abstract
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks uses two main characters, John’s father and Tim’s brother Alan, to express the symptoms and complications of the psychological disorder Asperger Syndrome. This disorder is considered a form of autism. People with this disorder will be passionate about one or more topics, but will struggle with daily tasks. The novel provides an extended metaphor through John’s father through his obsessive interest in his coin collection, and is difficulty in forming a relationship and communicating with his son as he attempts to raise him on his own. Evidence from his routine schedule and his trouble in controlling feelings is compared to Savannah’s friend Alan, a boy actually diagnosed with the disorder as a child. Savannah uses her knowledge from her studies in college and experience with Alan to diagnose John’s father, and help him understand why he has acted this way through John’s entire life.
Your Dad Loves You, I Can Tell, Even If You Can’t
Nicholas Sparks incorporates psychological concepts of Autism and Asperger Syndrome that reveal evidence of their symptoms in one of his best selling love stories, the novel, Dear John. When John was a still a child, he picked up a coin one day and noticed a defect. He quickly showed it to his only family, his father, who became infatuated with it. They took it to get looked at by a professional who explained to them that John had luckily stumbled upon a rare and value Jefferson Mule. Sometimes accidently a penny impresses into a nickel, and producing this surprisingly valuable error coin. When John was still young he enjoyed the conversations over coins with his dad, but eventually as he got older, he grew tired of his father’s obsession. And, he found that without coins, there wasn’t much to talk about. Mr. Tyree attempted to raise John on his own, but he never really kept track of where John
References: Sparks, Nicholas. (2006). Dear John. Warner Books. Davis, Stephen,& Palladino, Joseph.(2007). Psychology. Pearson. Jaffe. (2010). Dear John and Asperger Syndrome. Retrieved from <http://www.blog.drjaffeandassociates.com>. McLaughlin, Kate. (2008). Asperger’s Syndrome. Retrieved from <http://healthgoodness.com>. Samet, Deborah. (2002). Symptoms of Asperger Syndrome. US Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from <http://www.theasperger.connections.org.>