Will is the primary protagonist of The Subtle Knife. He comes from Winchester, England, in the reader’s world. Will is 12 during the events of the book. References to his early life indicate that he has spent much of his youth as a caretaker for his mother, who appears to be suffering from delusions. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that many of Mrs. Parry’s fears are founded; she has been pursued throughout Will’s life by people trying to steal her missing husband’s letters.

Will’s background has taught him to hide in plain sight, which helps him navigate Oxford without being recognized as a wanted killer. Defending his mother from hometown bullies has also made him a good fighter, a trait that serves him when saving the cat from the children, when taking the knife, and in many other situations.

Lyra, the protagonist in The Golden Compass, is also a primary character in The Subtle Knife. Like Will, she is 12. Lyra comes from a parallel universe version of Oxford, England, where she grew up as an orphan under the care of scholars at Jordan College.