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Lon Hammond, Jr.
Anne Nelson is Allie’s strait-laced mother. Anne disapproves of Allie and Noah’s summer fling in 1932, believing that Noah is “too poor” to be a suitable match for her daughter. As a result of her fear about Allie and Noah becoming serious, Anne confiscates the many letters Noah sends to Allie after the Nelson family departs New Bern at the end of the summer, keeping them from Allie for 14 years. When Anne learns that Allie has traveled to New Bern under the guise of antiquing to reconnect with Noah, Anne follows Allie out to the coast to deliver the letters to her and to warn her that Lon, too, has figured out what Allie is up to and is on his way. Though Anne defends her actions 14 years ago, in giving the letters to Allie, she also concedes that Allie must be in charge of her own fate. She encourages Allie to follow her heart as she makes a decision between Lon and Noah. Although Anne is buttoned-up and slightly cold, she’s perhaps a secret romantic at heart; Allie believes that her mother ultimately wants her to choose love over logic and emotional fulfillment over material wealth.
Anne Nelson Quotes in The Notebook
The The Notebook quotes below are all either spoken by Anne Nelson or refer to Anne Nelson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 3 Quotes
"Do you remember sneaking over here the night you first told me about this place? […] I got home a little late that evening, and my parents were furious when I finally came in. […] My mother had a long talk with me later that night. She said to me, 'I'm sure you think that I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. It's just that sometimes, our future is dictated by what we are, as opposed to what we want.’ […] It was a terrible thing for a girl to learn. That status is more important than feelings."
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Chapter 9 Quotes
'What are you going to do?" her mother asked, pulling back. There was a long pause.
"I don't know," Allie finally answered. They stood together for another minute, just holding each other. […]
On her way out the door, Allie thought that she heard her mother whisper, "Follow your heart," but she couldn't be sure.
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Chapter 11 Quotes
You and I were different. We came from different worlds, and yet you were the one who taught me the value of love. You showed me what it was like to care for another and I am a better man because of it. I don’t want you to ever forget that.
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Get the entire The Notebook LitChart as a printable PDF.
Anne Nelson Character Timeline in The Notebook
The timeline below shows where the character Anne Nelson appears in The Notebook. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3: Reunion
...her parents reprimanded her for spending time with Noah. Allie tells Noah how her mother, Anne, told her that sometimes, one’s future isn’t dictated by what they want but by who...
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...confused—she says she never got any letters from Noah. Noah and Allie realize simultaneously that Anne must have checked the mail diligently and kept the letters from Allie all these years....
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Chapter 4: Phone Calls
...remembers that Allie told him she was going to New Bern—and he recalls her mother Anne, years ago, telling a story about Allie’s “puppy love” back in New Bern. Lon is...
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Chapter 9: An Unexpected Visitor
...When he opens the door, he is shocked to find himself face to face with Anne Nelson—Allie’s mother. Allie calls cheerfully from the kitchen, asking who’s there, and Noah tells her.
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Anne, Noah, and Allie sit together at the coffee table in the living room. Allie asks...
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Anne turns to Allie and tells her that Lon called the house last night deeply concerned...
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Allie asks Anne what she should do. Anne says she doesn’t know—but she encourages Allie to think long...
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Anne reaches into her purse and retrieves a bundle of letters tied together with string—they are...
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Chapter 10: Crossroads
Noah walks Anne to the door and bids her goodbye. He knows that Allie needs to be alone,...
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...out of sight, Noah fears he has lost Allie forever. He notices that Allie, like Anne, did not look back even once after setting out.
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