Understanding Will's Character Essay

Raphael Vitto Janapin

Joshua Myles

NBE3U

March 6, 2023

Understanding Will’s Character Traplines features a young and naive character, Will, who endures a vicious cycle of constant abuse and futile escapism. Eden Robinson understands how malleable young minds are, specifically how easily shaped they are by events and experiences. Furthermore, she explores sociological factors manifested in the forms of herd mentality and social categorization throughout the story. An analysis of Will’s character gives insight into how the naive mind acts under peer influence and how it processes the trauma of domestic violence and how it leads to seemingly irrational decisions.

The Tates, a household of 4, reside in a village separated from the town. The

The natural choice would be the former. However, we see Will refusing and avoiding the seemingly better option. Despite all the bullying and the lack of love, he chooses to go back. I was frustrated because he chose the worse option—the wrong option. However, it made me wonder what factor has such a huge impact that it would lead you to make irrational decisions—this—I believe, is where sociology comes in. Will was raised with the identity of being a “villager” as opposed to being a “townie” and this hierarchical divide can be seen in the lines “Only townies. Kids that Dad says will never dirty their hands.” (9) and “Can you imagine a townie wanting to do anything with him?” (19). This involuntary social group mistrusts and despises the townies, and this dynamic is best represented when Elaine, a townie, played with Billy’s feelings, a townie, which hurt him in the process. Not to mention that in school, village kids get lower grades and they’re known for being poor. It is imperative to understand that Will didn’t choose to be surrounded by these village kids which happened to be abusing different substances. He didn’t choose to be a part of them, however, he felt like he belonged with them because throughout all his life he was nothing but a “villager”. He also feels like he owes them since they were his escape from Eric. This negative peer influence, which he helplessly clings to, pulls him away from the Smythe “Billy claps me in the shoulder, ‘Stay away from them,’ he says. ‘It’s not worth it’” (32). In the following scene, Will acts repulsively towards Mrs. Smythe, while he talks about what they could be doing right now. We can see how a sense of yearning envelopes him, nevertheless he can’t help but deny