The protagonist, 17-year old Landon Carter narrates this story. The 40-year old future Landon also contributes parts of the story. Landon progresses from a self-centered teenager to an altruistic young man who places his focus on the welfare of others. Landon has always been gentleman-like, a decent student, well-like by his classmates, and even attends church every Sunday. But his life's performance is solely satisfactory. He only does the bare minimum and as little as is required of him. The thing is, no one in his life is asking him to be anything more--that is, until Jamie Sullivan. They are entirely opposites, as in he's popular; she's an outcast. He puts in the least effort possible; she puts in the most she can manage. He avoids helping others; she goes out of her way to help everything and everybody. And yet she completely changes everything about Landon. It's the pressure to be better and guilt over having been less than he could be that create Landon's growth into an extraordinary young man. "She practically glowed when she spoke. Though she wasn't saying it to make me feel guilty, that was the way I felt. "
No one is forcing Landon to change, but he wants to be better himself. For example, in chapter 9, Landon found that all the money that Jamie had been raising for a year totaled to only 50 dollars which was barely anything. He secretly put 200 dollars in the fund so that she wouldn't be so disappointed. After she found the miraculous amount of money, Landon thought, "For once, it was the right thing to do" (146).
Jamie Sullivan is a complex character who defies stereotyping. She is described as unattractive; yet her rare attractiveness (such as during the play) surprises Landon throughout the novel. She is the preacher's daughter and thought of as a pious outcast. She carries a Bible with her everywhere, but it is later explained that is her connection to her mother that she never got to meet. Jamie sees the good in everyone and refuses to judge anyone. In spite of not having any siblings, she shares her life with orphans, and in spite of not having much money, she shares her time and money with others at every opportunity. When Landon asked Jamie if she enjoyed coming to the orphanage, or if it made her sad, she said: "Both. Some of the children here came...It's the greatest feeling in the world."
