Me Before You
Me
Before You is a romance
novel written by Jojo
Moyes. The book was first published on 5
January 2012 in the United Kingdom. A sequel titled After You was released 29 September 2015 through Pamela Dorman Books.[1][2] A second sequel, Still Me, was published in January
2018.[3]
Plot
Twenty-six-year-old
Louisa Clark lives with her working-class family. Unambitious and with few
qualifications, she feels constantly outshone by her younger sister, Treena, an
outgoing single mother. Louisa, who helps support her family, loses her job at
a local café when the café closes. She goes to the Job Centre and, after
several failed attempts, is offered a unique employment opportunity: help care
for Will Traynor, a successful, wealthy, and once-active young man who
developed quadriplegia
in a pedestrian-motorcycle accident two years earlier. Will's mother, Camilla,
hires Louisa despite her lack of experience, believing Louisa can brighten his
spirit. Louisa meets Nathan, who cares for Will's medical needs, and Will's
father, Steven, a friendly upper-class businessman whose marriage to Camilla is
strained.
Louisa
and Will's relationship starts out rocky due to his bitterness and resentment
over being disabled. Things worsen after Will's ex-girlfriend, Alicia, and best
friend Rupert reveal that they are getting married. Under Louisa's care, Will
gradually becomes more communicative and open-minded as they share experiences
together. Louisa notices Will's scarred wrists and later overhears his mother
and father discussing how he attempted suicide shortly after Camilla refused
his request to end his life through Dignitas, a Swiss-based assisted suicide organisation. Horrified by
his attempt, Camilla promised to honour her son's wish, but only if he agreed
to live six more months. Camilla intends to prove that, in time, he will
believe his life's worth living.
Louisa
conceals knowing about Will and Camilla's agreement. However, she tells Treena,
and together they devise ways that will help convince Will to abandon his death
wish. Over the next few weeks, Will loosens up and Louisa begins taking him on
outings and the two grow closer.
Through
their frequent talks, Louisa learns that Will has travelled extensively; his
favourite place is a café in Paris. Noticing how limited her life is and that
she has few ambitions, Will tries to motivate Louisa to change.
Louisa
continues seeing her longtime boyfriend of 7 years, Patrick, though they
eventually break up due to her relationship with Will. Meanwhile, Louisa's
father loses his job, causing more financial difficulties. Steven Traynor
offers Mr. Clark a position. Louisa realises that Will is trying to help her
secure her freedom from her family. The two attend Alicia and Rupert's wedding
where they dance and flirt. Will tells Louisa that she is the only reason he
wakes in the morning.
Louisa
convinces Will to go on a holiday with her, but before they can leave, Will
contracts near-fatal pneumonia. Louisa cancels the plans for a whirlwind trip.
Instead, she takes Will to the island of Mauritius. The night before returning home, Louisa tells Will that
she loves him. Will says he wants to confide something, but she admits that she
already knows about his plans with Dignitas. Will says their time together has
been special, but he cannot bear to live in a wheelchair. He will be following
through with his plans. Angry and hurt, Louisa storms off and does not speak to
him for the remainder of the trip. When they return home, Will's parents are
pleasantly surprised by his good physical condition. Louisa, however, resigns
as his caretaker, and they understand that Will intends to end his life.
On
the night of Will's flight to Switzerland, Louisa visits him one last time.
They agree that the past six months have been the best in their lives. He dies
shortly after in the clinic, and it is revealed that he left Louisa a
considerable inheritance, meant to continue her education and to fully
experience life. The novel ends with Louisa at a café in Paris, reading Will's
last words to her in a letter, that tell her to 'live well'.
Characters
- Louisa Clark – a 26-year-old woman who is creative, talented, and funny but underestimates herself and has few ambitions. Her life changes when she begins working as a caretaker for a paralysed man. Over time, she learns to harness her capabilities and step out of her limited comfort zone.[4]
- William (Will) Traynor – a 35-year-old[5] man who became quadriplegic after being hit by a motorbike. He is intelligent and wealthy, but his impairment has left him moody, angry, and bitter. Unable to accept never being the active and adventurous man he once was, he wants to end his life.
- Camilla Traynor – Will's mother who has a strained relationship with her son. She is severe and strict but she cares about her son's well-being.
- Steven Traynor – Will's father who was mostly absent from his children's lives; Camilla Traynor blames him for destroying their family. He wants to divorce Camilla.
- Katrina (Treena) Clark – Louisa's younger sister who is a single mother to son Thomas, who works at flower shop. She has always been regarded as the most intelligent sibling. Even though the sisters have always been competitive, they support each other.
- Patrick – Louisa's boyfriend who works as a personal trainer. He is obsessed with sports and diet.
- Nathan – Will's nurse and caretaker who is also his friend.
- Bernard Clark – Lou's father, worked as a furniture craftsman before being laid off and ultimately works maintenance for the castle
- Josephine – Lou's mother, who spends her days caring after Treena's son and cleaning
- Alicia Dewar – Will's ex-girlfriend who marries his colleague, Rupert. She is beautiful and delicate, but lives her life according to the standards of upper society.
- Georgina Traynor – Will's sister who lives and works in Australia, she resents Will for his desire to die
- Rupert Freshwell – An old friend of Will's from work. He marries Will's old girlfriend, Alicia.
- Frank – Louisa's previous employer at the bakery where she worked before meeting Will.
- Thomas – Louisa's young nephew and the son of her sister Katrina, a single mother.
- Major Timothy Dewar – Alicia Dewar's father.
Reception
Disability
advocates have criticised the book and film for suggesting that life may not be
worth living for some with severe disabilities.[8]
Film adaptation
Main article: Me Before You (film)
In
2014 MGM announced it would make a film adaptation of Me Before
You, to be directed by Thea
Sharrock[9] and released via Warner
Bros. The film was initially set to
release in August 2015 but was pushed back to 3 June 2016.[10]
Emilia
Clarke and Sam
Claflin portray the main characters. The
film has grossed over $200 million worldwide.[citation needed]
References
· · "Pamela
Dorman Books/Viking to Publish Jojo Moyes' After You, the Sequel to Me Before
You". Penguin Books. Retrieved 7 March
2016.
· · Schaap, James C.
"Me Before You (Book Review)." Pro Rege 42.1 (2013): pp. 32–33
· · 'Me
Before You’ Criticized by Advocates Over Portrayal of a Disabled Character, Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 26 May 2016
·
Busch, Anita. "'Me Before You' Gets Release Date From Warner
Bros".
Deadline. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment