Landon Carter
Landon Carter is the protagonist in the story. He is the self-centered teenager that watches life from the sidelines. In the beginning of the story he was raised to be a decent student and is well-liked by his classmates, you would think there is nothing wrong with Landon, but there’s the things you cannot see that is wrong. He brings no good to Beaufort, he puts as little effort forth as required, he uses sarcasm to describe everything, and wastes his time and energy. His life performance is satisfactory and the only person that sees the good in him is Jamie Sullivan. Throughout the story Jamie and Landon become very close and Landon starts to compare him to her. Landon’s closeness to Jamie frustrates and intrigues him, he is very wondered that anyone could be so selfless, cheerful and naturally good, at this same time he feels pressure to be better and guilt that he was not better all the past years. All the pressure and guilt cause Landon to change into not only a teenage boy but a mature, life-changing young man. As Landon falls in love with Jamie, which he had never expected, he sees that no one was forcing him to change he just wanted to be better. Now Landon is in his 50’s and is wiser, more faithful, a giver and someone that believes in miracles.
Jamie Sullivan
Jamie Sullivan is a very misunderstood character that defies stereotyping. In the beginning of the story she is described as unattractive and carries the Bible around wherever she goes which is very mistaken. Later the reader finds that the Bible she carries is her connection with her mother that she never met, we also find that she is very beautiful and surprises Landon several times throughout the story. Jamie is a real Christian that does not devout on the surface but then judges others. She is kind to everyone no matter what his or her mistake and is forgiving to whoever asks of it. Likewise, Jamie does not try to teach Landon all his life lessons and change him, but instead she continues to believe there is good hidden inside of him. Jamie’s belief troubles Landon and causes him to make tremendous changes in his life, she asks tough questions and holds him to higher standards than he has ever been held before. Jamie has a close-knit, loving home life despite no mother and her much-older father. Jamie shares her life with orphans and, while not having much money of her own, she shares it with others at every opportunity. In the last few chapters of the story, we find out that Jamie is dying of Leukemia and her father tells no one to avoid pity that often accompanies such horrific news. Jamie spends the last year of her life helping others and studying hard in all her classes. She is one of the best students in the class, yet she will not attend college and wants only to have a wedding with a big crowd before she dies. Jamie and Landon in the end get married and Jamie walks down the isle with her father’s support on one of her weakest days. The walk down the isle that no one thought was possible is “the walk to remember”.
Hegbert Sullivan
In the beginning of the story, Landon paints a picture of Hegbert Sullivan that is totally different than his true personality. In the beginning, we think that Reverend Sullivan is a stereotypical Southern Baptist preacher that rails against fornicators and preaches about the wrath of God. Throughout the story readers observe that Jamie and her fathers interactions are tender and kind, even Landon learns a lot from watching Hegbert and his daughter. We learn that Hegbert is a first and foremost father and he has experienced great loss in his life. Throughout all the loss he endures, he learns to grieve, continues to love and mentors his congregation.
Landon Carter is the protagonist in the story. He is the self-centered teenager that watches life from the sidelines. In the beginning of the story he was raised to be a decent student and is well-liked by his classmates, you would think there is nothing wrong with Landon, but there’s the things you cannot see that is wrong. He brings no good to Beaufort, he puts as little effort forth as required, he uses sarcasm to describe everything, and wastes his time and energy. His life performance is satisfactory and the only person that sees the good in him is Jamie Sullivan. Throughout the story Jamie and Landon become very close and Landon starts to compare him to her. Landon’s closeness to Jamie frustrates and intrigues him, he is very wondered that anyone could be so selfless, cheerful and naturally good, at this same time he feels pressure to be better and guilt that he was not better all the past years. All the pressure and guilt cause Landon to change into not only a teenage boy but a mature, life-changing young man. As Landon falls in love with Jamie, which he had never expected, he sees that no one was forcing him to change he just wanted to be better. Now Landon is in his 50’s and is wiser, more faithful, a giver and someone that believes in miracles.
Jamie Sullivan
Jamie Sullivan is a very misunderstood character that defies stereotyping. In the beginning of the story she is described as unattractive and carries the Bible around wherever she goes which is very mistaken. Later the reader finds that the Bible she carries is her connection with her mother that she never met, we also find that she is very beautiful and surprises Landon several times throughout the story. Jamie is a real Christian that does not devout on the surface but then judges others. She is kind to everyone no matter what his or her mistake and is forgiving to whoever asks of it. Likewise, Jamie does not try to teach Landon all his life lessons and change him, but instead she continues to believe there is good hidden inside of him. Jamie’s belief troubles Landon and causes him to make tremendous changes in his life, she asks tough questions and holds him to higher standards than he has ever been held before. Jamie has a close-knit, loving home life despite no mother and her much-older father. Jamie shares her life with orphans and, while not having much money of her own, she shares it with others at every opportunity. In the last few chapters of the story, we find out that Jamie is dying of Leukemia and her father tells no one to avoid pity that often accompanies such horrific news. Jamie spends the last year of her life helping others and studying hard in all her classes. She is one of the best students in the class, yet she will not attend college and wants only to have a wedding with a big crowd before she dies. Jamie and Landon in the end get married and Jamie walks down the isle with her father’s support on one of her weakest days. The walk down the isle that no one thought was possible is “the walk to remember”.
Hegbert Sullivan
In the beginning of the story, Landon paints a picture of Hegbert Sullivan that is totally different than his true personality. In the beginning, we think that Reverend Sullivan is a stereotypical Southern Baptist preacher that rails against fornicators and preaches about the wrath of God. Throughout the story readers observe that Jamie and her fathers interactions are tender and kind, even Landon learns a lot from watching Hegbert and his daughter. We learn that Hegbert is a first and foremost father and he has experienced great loss in his life. Throughout all the loss he endures, he learns to grieve, continues to love and mentors his congregation.