The Harsh Truth About Why The Notebook's Noah Calhoun Is Actually Creepy

Its framing device is the titular notebook, which the main characters use in their final days to recall events of the past, and the main story is a fairly typical story of star-crossed lovers – a poor boy named Noah (Ryan Gosling ) and a rich girl named Allie (Rachel McAdams).

They get torn apart then re-unite, and so on, as can be expected from the genre.

The Notebook is a beloved movie, and consequently Noah is frequently idolized as an ideal romantic hero. But does he deserve to be put on such a pedestal?

Well, speaking realistically, Ryan Gosling has looks and charm of an A-list Hollywood actor. Looks and charm are the most important parts of a romantic hero – just look how many fangirls outright villains, played by handsome actors, so often get.

Therefore actions which almost certainly would have been considered creepy/stalkerish/abusive in real life, for example when Noah insists on going out with Allie in their very first meeting, despite being repeatedly rejected, are interpreted as admirable determination in pursuit of his love.

And if sometimes Noah comes off as manipulative, like dangling from one of the beams of the Ferris wheel, on which Allie is riding and threatening to let go if Allie doesn't agree to go out with him, well...

In real-life such behavior would have been considered harassment, and threatening self-harm, if a girl does not agree to go on a date with you, is something associated with deranged stalkers.

But romance stories are not real life. So the audience mostly just accepts things like love at the first sight and refusal to take "no" for an answer – and Noah continues doing that later in the movie, for example, he keeps writing to Alfie despite receiving no answers (her mother was intercepting the letters) – as a part of the genre's package.

And well, even in real life someone looking like Ryan Gosling may well get away with behavior, which in case of an average-looking man would have resulted in woman calling the police or getting a restraining order, so The Notebook's breaks from reality are well within the common movie standards.

But whether a character acting like that should be portrayed as something positive and inspiring is another question.