Deconstructing Romantic Love: Analysis of ‘Dear John’
Deconstructing Romantic Love in ‘Dear John’
Hello, my name is Victoria Menendez Simonutti, and I will be presenting my final year project, titled ‘Deconstructing Romantic Love in Dear John’ by Nicholas Sparks.
Introduction
First, I would like to outline the structure of this presentation. It will be approximately 15 minutes long and divided into the following sections: an introductory part (which I am currently delivering), the topic of this project and the reasons for choosing it, the methodology used for this work and the compilation of the theoretical framework, and finally, an illustration of how this theory applies to the novel, along with my conclusions.
What is the Topic of the Project?
The topic of this dissertation is romantic love and its myths. Romantic love is a socio-cultural construct that shapes how heterosexual interactions occur. It has been the prevailing type of love since the 19th century in most of the world, particularly in the Western world.
Romantic myths, on the other hand, are conventional beliefs that, due to how they are conveyed, may appear to be facts or absolute truths about the “true nature of love,” when they actually lead to misconceptions about love. These romantic myths continue to damage and shape most romantic relationships and sentimental structures today. Examples include the myth of the other half, the exclusivity myth, the eternal passion myth, and the myth of omnipotence.
Why Choose This Topic? Project’s Purpose
I chose this topic because I felt that this novel and its film adaptation, along with the romantic myths they entail, have personally influenced my perception of love, as well as that of my generation. Moreover, during my research, I found many theorists addressing this topic, but few did so in simple terms. I believe it is crucial to facilitate understanding for a non-familiarized audience.
The goal of this project is to question beliefs concerning romantic love and its myths to enhance the independence of adolescents, especially women. It also aims to elucidate why and how these myths and romantic love ideas have been passed down from one generation to the next since the 19th century, and when and how these ideas came into question.
This is achieved through basic definitions of romantic myths, the concept of romantic love, and the specific consequences that each myth has on romantic relationships. It also includes a practical exemplification of the myths transmitted via media, the film industry, or literature, in this case, the novel ‘Dear John’.
Methodology
This research was carried out using the methodology of Action Research, as it attempts to solve an issue present in society. It involves systematic observation and data collection, which is then used for reflection. As I mention in my conclusion, it could be used for future family and educational interventions to prevent teenagers from absorbing the same misconceptions about love.
The myths in the novel and the entire idea of romantic love have been assessed and analyzed thoroughly from a Critical Perspective.
Theoretical Framework
To understand the myths, I first needed to research the foundational concepts: Love, Romantic Love, Romantic Myths, and Emotions. Regarding love, several theories were considered: Ancient Greek Love Types, Lee’s Colours of Love, and Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love. I had always assumed that love was singular. During this research, I realized I was very wrong and learned about the different types of love and how the predominant type of love has changed throughout history.
Additionally, I found it very interesting how different theorists had studied love through so many perspectives. While Sternberg points out that there are three basic components in love, and their combination creates different love types, Lee talks about love styles, and the Ancient Greek’s Types of Love evidenced that love has never been black or white.