Point of Retreat

As the protagonist and narrator of Point of Retreat, Will embodies the struggle of a young man forced into premature adulthood. He is a dynamic and round character whose journey is defined by his efforts to balance immense responsibility with the intense emotions of first love. His primary character traits are his strong sense of duty, his vulnerability expressed through slam poetry, and a deep-seated insecurity that leads him to avoid conflict, which threatens his future with Lake.

Will’s role as the guardian to his younger brother, Caulder, is the bedrock of his identity. Following the deaths of his parents, he has become a de facto parent to Caulder, attempting to find a balance of love and guidance. As Will, Caulder, Lake, and Kel cement their chosen family dynamic, Will’s protective instincts become a source of both strength and weakness. He wants to create a perfect, stable life for those he loves, as evidenced by his insistence on a special getaway weekend in which he and Lake plan to have sex for the first time. As Will tells Lake, “I want this to be perfect for you” (76).