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Conclusion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2022

Susan L. Carruthers
Affiliation:
University of Warwick
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Summary

The conclusion returns to, and completes, the story of Anne Gudis and Sam Kramer, whose fitful epistolary courtship was explored in earlier chapters. It also suggests why the Dear John letter has proven to be such a durable emblem of female betrayal in wartime, despite profound changes in US society and in American war-waging over the past century. Soldiers‘ and veterans‘ stories of abandonment and betrayal by female romantic partners are more than simply outlets for hurt feelings or bruised egos. They also underscore the chasm that many servicemen have felt between civilian society and those in uniform. As such, Dear John story-telling has elevated veterans‘ perceptions that men who jeopardized their lives for their country have been misunderstood and maltreated – not just by the women they loved and lost, but by the nation writ large.

Type
Chapter
Information
Dear John
Love and Loyalty in Wartime America
, pp. 239 - 252
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Conclusion
  • Susan L. Carruthers, University of Warwick
  • Book: Dear John
  • Online publication: 04 January 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108913867.009
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  • Conclusion
  • Susan L. Carruthers, University of Warwick
  • Book: Dear John
  • Online publication: 04 January 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108913867.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Conclusion
  • Susan L. Carruthers, University of Warwick
  • Book: Dear John
  • Online publication: 04 January 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108913867.009
Available formats
×