The Notebook: Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

Allie pulls her car into Noah’s driveway. As she steps out, Noah finds that his feelings for her—and his attraction to her—have grown overnight. Allie kisses Noah on the cheek and immediately asks where her surprise is. He chuckles at her impatience. He tells her that the surprise may not happen—he wanted to take her somewhere, but storm clouds are rolling in. Allie says she wants to go anyway—she doesn’t care if it rains. Noah says they should leave right away. On the way down to the dock, Allie asks where they’re going, but Noah insists on keeping it a surprise. 

As Noah paddles the two of them out onto the river, Allie watches him row and finds herself physically aroused by his muscular frame—but also emotionally touched by his unique connection to nature and his complex personality. Embarrassed by her feelings, Allie tries to break the silence by talking. She asks Noah what he remembers most from their summer together. “All of it,” Noah replies, before going on to explain that he could not pick one moment over another. Noah tells Allie that the poets describe love as an uncontrollable, overpowering force—and that is what he felt when falling in love with Allie. Allie is taken aback by Noah’s words. She is overwhelmed but not uncomfortable, and she thanks him for the beautiful sentiment.

As silence descends upon the two of them once again, Allie finds herself grateful for the man Noah has become. She has seen men over the years destroyed by war, time, and even money—but Noah, in spite of it all, has remained true to himself and held onto his passions. While the rest of the country is rushing to heal from the wounds of the depression and the war, Noah is taking his time. Inspired by Noah’s faithfulness to the things he loves, Allie realizes that she is meant to be a painter. She becomes determined to give art another shot, no matter what Lon, her parents, or anyone else might think.

Allie thinks back to a time several years ago when she showed Lon one of her abstract paintings—he didn’t understand the work at all. Allie knows that Lon is a good but simple man—with him, there are no surprises, simply the comfort of knowing exactly what the future holds. With Lon, she can live the kind of life she has always expected to live. Allie has long told herself that while passion fades, companionship lasts forever—but now, with Noah, she questions her own logic.

Noah guides the kayak toward some trees and navigates it around a large fallen trunk. He announces that they have arrived at their destination. He urges Allie to close her eyes. She covers them with her hands, listening to the water for several moments. Finally, Noah tells Allie to open her eyes.