An adventurous traveler and ruthless businessman, Will Traynor must adapt to life as a quadriplegic man after a motorcycle accident. Will struggles with his loss of autonomy and seeks to regain his power, even to the point of harming himself. Determined to exert power over his life, he remains steadfast in his goal of ending his own life—that is, until his burgeoning romance with his new caregiver, Louisa, threatens to upend his plans.

A cultured and educated man, Will struggles to find enjoyment in his new life. He allows himself to grow unkempt while seeking to scare off Louisa, the caregiver hired by his mother, Camilla. Despite his best efforts to maintain distance, he becomes intrigued by Louisa’s unique personality and guides her to a world outside their small hometown. As Louisa attempts to convince Will to continue living, he embarks on his own mission to awaken her passion for life. Described by his father, Steven, as having “this urge to subvert” (291), Will chooses not to pursue a relationship with Louisa to fulfill his own mission, despite his love for her. As a quadriplegic man, Will offers a glimpse into life with a disability. While his relationship with Louisa softens him, he remains a

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