Will is a journalist. The novel begins with a familiar trope in literature, that of a stranger coming to town—or in this case, the island of Pala. Will becomes shipwrecked and lands on Pala by accident, where he is injured. During his recovery, Will learns about Palanese culture and becomes increasingly curious as to how the island is governed. His exposure to Palanese ideology leads to his growth.

Will carries emotional baggage about his infidelity and wife’s death. It’s not that he is shameless and unfeeling. Instead, he learned compartmentalizing techniques as a young man growing up with a tyrannical father. These techniques enabled him to get by. Will’s father was an abusive alcoholic and left a monumental mark. Will lacked a proper means to process grief, trauma, and emotional abuse.

As the novel begins, Will doesn’t care about Pala’s fate. He sees his unintentional landing on Pala as an opportunity to do business for his capitalist boss. However, as he spends more time in Pala, his views begin to change. He becomes less cynical and accepts the island’s ideology. We see his growth when he refuses to sign the oil deal. He spares the island for the time being and, by the end of the novel, fully accepts the Palanese lifestyle.