The Notebook

by

Nicholas Sparks

Lon Hammond, Jr. Character Analysis

Lon Hammond, Jr. is Allie’s fiancé; he’s an intelligent and hardworking lawyer who comes from a wealthy, powerful family who made their money in the cotton industry long ago. Allie describes Lon as caring, gentlemanly, hardworking, and steady—yet as she reconnects with Noah 14 years after their summer fling, she finds herself comparing Lon to Noah in more nuanced ways. Lon has never understood Allie’s ambitions as an artist—when she’s showed him her paintings in the past, he’s reacted with indifference or confusion. Lon is a hardworking provider, but his hours are so long and his cases so demanding that he and Allie rarely talk deeply about their lives, memories, or opinions—Lon is barely even home for dinner once a week. Allie also begins to realize that while she does love Lon, the love she feels for him is chaste—she has no passion for him. Though scheduled to be wed in three weeks, the two of them have never had sex. Most of what the reader knows of Lon comes through Allie, though there are two short chapters which show Lon’s inquisitive, analytical brain at work as he puzzles over Allie’s sudden trip to the coast to go “antiquing.” It is clear that while Lon genuinely cares for Allie, he sees her as a practical match or even a possession—he does not appreciate the fullness of who she is as Noah does. When Allie tells Lon that she wants to be with Noah, Lon is gracious, understanding, and even wishes Allie well, demonstrating that he is exactly the cool, logical gentleman she has always known him to be.

Lon Hammond, Jr. Quotes in The Notebook

The The Notebook quotes below are all either spoken by Lon Hammond, Jr. or refer to Lon Hammond, Jr.. 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:
Love and Destiny Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

[Lon] was handsome, intelligent, and driven, a successful lawyer eight years older than she, and he pursued his job with passion. […] [Allie] understood his vigorous pursuit of success… […] In the caste system of the South, family name and accomplishments were often the most important consideration in marriage. In some cases, they were the only consideration. Though she had quietly rebelled against this idea since childhood and had dated a few men best described as reckless, she found herself drawn to Lon's easy ways and had gradually come to love him.

Related Characters: Allie Nelson, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 18
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

"You did a wonderful job restoring it. It looks perfect, just like I knew it would someday."

[Noah] turned his head in the same direction as hers while he wondered about the small talk and what she was holding back.

“Thanks, that's nice of you. It was quite a project, though. I don't know if I would do it again."

"Of course you would," she said. [Allie] knew exactly how he felt about this place.

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Noah’s House
Page Number: 41
Explanation and Analysis:

"When's the big day?"

"Three weeks from Saturday. Lon wanted a November wedding."

“Lon?"

"Lon Hammond Jr. My fiancé."

[Noah] nodded, not surprised. The Hammonds were one of the most powerful and influential families in the state. Cotton money. […] "With his name, he must be busy."

"He is. He works a lot."

He thought he heard something in her tone, and the next question came automatically.

"Does he treat you well?"

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 43-44
Explanation and Analysis:

"Lon's handsome, charming, and successful, and most of my friends are insanely jealous. They think he's perfect, and in a lot of ways he is. "But there's always going to be something missing in our relationship." […]

"Why?"

[…] "I guess I still look for the kind of love we had that summer."

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 61
Explanation and Analysis:

"C'mon," he said, reaching for her hand, "I want to show you something."

She got up and followed him through the door to the living room. He stopped in front of the fireplace and pointed to the painting that hung above the mantel. […]

"You kept it?"

"Of course I kept it. […] It makes me feel alive when I look at it. Sometimes I have to get up and touch it. It's just so real—the shapes, the shadows, the colors. I even dream about it sometimes. It's incredible, Allie—I can stare at it for hours."

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Allie’s Paintings
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

Would Lon encourage her painting? She remembered showing him one of her paintings a couple of months after they had first started going out. It was an abstract painting and was meant to inspire thought. In a way, it resembled the painting above Noah's fireplace, the one Noah understood completely, though it may have been a touch less passionate. Lon had stared at it, studied it almost, and then had asked her what it was supposed to be. She hadn't bothered to answer.

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun, Allie Nelson, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Allie’s Paintings
Page Number: 105
Explanation and Analysis:

Though he wasn't Noah, Lon was a good man, the kind of man she'd always known she would marry. With Lon there would be no surprises, and there was comfort in knowing what the future would bring. He would be a kind husband to her, and she would be a good wife. She would have a home near friends and family, children, a respectable place in society. […] And though she wouldn't describe theirs as a passionate relationship, she had convinced herself long ago that this wasn't necessary… […] Passion would fade in time, and things like companionship and compatibility would take its place.

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun, Allie Nelson, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 106
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

"Noah, what are they doing here?"

"I don't know. I know the swans from up north migrate to Lake Mattamuskeet every winter, but I guess they came here this time. I don't know why. Maybe the early blizzard had something to do with it. Maybe they got off track or something. They'll find their way back, though."

"They won't stay?"

"I doubt it. They're driven by instinct, and this isn't their place."

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Allie Nelson (speaker), Anne Nelson (speaker), Noah Calhoun, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Writing
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lon Hammond, Jr. Quotes in The Notebook

The The Notebook quotes below are all either spoken by Lon Hammond, Jr. or refer to Lon Hammond, Jr.. 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:
Love and Destiny Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

[Lon] was handsome, intelligent, and driven, a successful lawyer eight years older than she, and he pursued his job with passion. […] [Allie] understood his vigorous pursuit of success… […] In the caste system of the South, family name and accomplishments were often the most important consideration in marriage. In some cases, they were the only consideration. Though she had quietly rebelled against this idea since childhood and had dated a few men best described as reckless, she found herself drawn to Lon's easy ways and had gradually come to love him.

Related Characters: Allie Nelson, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 18
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3 Quotes

"You did a wonderful job restoring it. It looks perfect, just like I knew it would someday."

[Noah] turned his head in the same direction as hers while he wondered about the small talk and what she was holding back.

“Thanks, that's nice of you. It was quite a project, though. I don't know if I would do it again."

"Of course you would," she said. [Allie] knew exactly how he felt about this place.

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Noah’s House
Page Number: 41
Explanation and Analysis:

"When's the big day?"

"Three weeks from Saturday. Lon wanted a November wedding."

“Lon?"

"Lon Hammond Jr. My fiancé."

[Noah] nodded, not surprised. The Hammonds were one of the most powerful and influential families in the state. Cotton money. […] "With his name, he must be busy."

"He is. He works a lot."

He thought he heard something in her tone, and the next question came automatically.

"Does he treat you well?"

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 43-44
Explanation and Analysis:

"Lon's handsome, charming, and successful, and most of my friends are insanely jealous. They think he's perfect, and in a lot of ways he is. "But there's always going to be something missing in our relationship." […]

"Why?"

[…] "I guess I still look for the kind of love we had that summer."

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 61
Explanation and Analysis:

"C'mon," he said, reaching for her hand, "I want to show you something."

She got up and followed him through the door to the living room. He stopped in front of the fireplace and pointed to the painting that hung above the mantel. […]

"You kept it?"

"Of course I kept it. […] It makes me feel alive when I look at it. Sometimes I have to get up and touch it. It's just so real—the shapes, the shadows, the colors. I even dream about it sometimes. It's incredible, Allie—I can stare at it for hours."

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Allie’s Paintings
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 6 Quotes

Would Lon encourage her painting? She remembered showing him one of her paintings a couple of months after they had first started going out. It was an abstract painting and was meant to inspire thought. In a way, it resembled the painting above Noah's fireplace, the one Noah understood completely, though it may have been a touch less passionate. Lon had stared at it, studied it almost, and then had asked her what it was supposed to be. She hadn't bothered to answer.

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun, Allie Nelson, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Allie’s Paintings
Page Number: 105
Explanation and Analysis:

Though he wasn't Noah, Lon was a good man, the kind of man she'd always known she would marry. With Lon there would be no surprises, and there was comfort in knowing what the future would bring. He would be a kind husband to her, and she would be a good wife. She would have a home near friends and family, children, a respectable place in society. […] And though she wouldn't describe theirs as a passionate relationship, she had convinced herself long ago that this wasn't necessary… […] Passion would fade in time, and things like companionship and compatibility would take its place.

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun, Allie Nelson, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 106
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

"Noah, what are they doing here?"

"I don't know. I know the swans from up north migrate to Lake Mattamuskeet every winter, but I guess they came here this time. I don't know why. Maybe the early blizzard had something to do with it. Maybe they got off track or something. They'll find their way back, though."

"They won't stay?"

"I doubt it. They're driven by instinct, and this isn't their place."

Related Characters: Noah Calhoun (speaker), Allie Nelson (speaker), Lon Hammond, Jr.
Page Number: 108
Explanation and Analysis:
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.

Related Characters: Allie Nelson (speaker), Anne Nelson (speaker), Noah Calhoun, Lon Hammond, Jr.
Related Symbols: Writing
Page Number: 137
Explanation and Analysis: