Dan is the narrator and protagonist of the story. As the novel is semiautobiographical, Dan is also the author’s persona and shares his name. The narrative centers on his journey to self-growth and spiritual discovery, following his point of view. The story begins with Dan as a college student and a gymnastics athlete who dreams of becoming a champion. Dan starts college life with optimism and confidence, feeling “strong, independent, ready for anything” (3). He pursues his dream with zeal, training rigorously at the gym. Dan is initially confident in his masculinity and athleticism; he describes his look as a “clean cut, short brown hair, a lean, wiry body” and enjoys his success as a winner of the World Trampoline Championship (4). Things take a turn when Dan experiences a mental health crisis, proving that his success as an athlete is insufficient for him. Dan has depression, and his nightmares reveal his fear of death.

Dan’s meeting with Socrates is a turning point. Though Dan is sometimes frustrated by Socrates’s enigmatic character, the man becomes his mentor and spiritual guide, initiating him into a journey of self-discovery described as the warrior’s way.