Nicholas Sparks' "Message in a Bottle"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the plot of Nicholas Sparks' "Message in a Bottle" follows the true life story of Sparks' father. The author points out that this novel makes use of the leitmotif of a message in a bottle, which was thrown in the sea and left to the mercy of the waves and of chance. The paper relates that these love messages, written by Garret Blake to his deceased wife Catherine and put afloat in bottles contain the most important statements the author makes about love and trigger the further developments of the plot.

Outline:
Love in the Context of Life and Death in the Novel
The Leitmotif of the Message in a Bottle Thrown at Sea
Makes the Transition from the Old Love Story to the New Love Story
Forms the Lyrical Core of the Novel and Serves as a Confession of Love
Serves to Prove the Role that Chance Plays in Finding True Love
The Place of Love in Life
Lovers Often Use the Word "Forever" to Describe Their Love, Suggesting that Death is an Obstacle in the Course of Love
True Love Can Happen More Times during a Life- Span Due to Man's Inner Capacity to Love
Negative Criticism of the Novel
Loose, Unrealistic Plot
Tearjerker
Symbolic Meaning of the Novel
Love can be Destructive
Death and the Chances of Life Interfere with the Course of Love
True Love Seems to be Ill-Fated
Loss Happens Two Times in the Novel- Garret loses Catherine, then Theresa loses Garret.
Love has a Regenerating Power
Love can Happen after Loss
Novel's Circular Structure
Proof of the Regenerating Power of Love

From the Paper:

"The human capacity for loving is proven as unquenchable: love can follow again even after the deepest relationship, although this feeling may be frustrating, as we see in Garret's case who finds it very hard to accept the death of his wife and to love again. Thus, love, life and death appear are very much connected in the novel, revealing an essential fact about the human condition: life and love seem to be somewhat in conflict all through the human existence. Man is first of all given life to, and his life span is delimited by destiny."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Arnold, Gary. "Message in a Bottle sinks as love-story." The Washington Times. Febr. 12, 1999
• Bainton, Sarah. "Film Review: 'Message in a Bottle' charms couples and romantics alike this Valentine's Day." University Wire.
• Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. New York: Penguin Classics, 1983
• Message in a Bottle. The Official Nicholas Sparks Web Site. http://nicholassparks.com/Novels/MessageInABottle/BackInfo.html
• - - Book Browse. http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_guides/detail/index.cfm?book_number=425

More papers on Nicholas Sparks' "Message in a Bottle":

• Persuasive Essay # 104406 : "A Message in a Bottle"
• Analytical Essay # 16501 : "MS. Found in a Bottle"
• Analytical Essay # 116591 : "Love in Works by Nicholas Sparks"

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