William in Lucy by the Sea: Character Analysis

Overview

William is Lucy Barton's ex-husband and the character who initiates the novel's central relocation. A parasitologist by profession, he arrives at Lucy's New York apartment in early March 2020, insisting she leave the city as the coronavirus begins spreading. Over the course of the novel, William transforms from a distant, emotionally guarded figure into someone who reconnects with his estranged half-sister, confronts his family's wartime legacy, and eventually rekindles his relationship with Lucy. Strout presents William entirely through Lucy's observational narration, which means readers see his actions, his occasional emotional breakthroughs, and his silences filtered through her interpretation. For a broader view of the novel, see the book overview.

Plot Role

William functions as the novel's catalyst. His insistence on driving Lucy to a rented house in Crosby, Maine—arranged by Bob Burgess—sets the entire narrative in motion. Without his intervention, Lucy would have remained in New York City during the pandemic's first wave. He also serves as a counterpoint to Lucy's grief over her late husband David: where Lucy is paralyzed by loss and unable to write, William is restless, reading voraciously, cooking nightly, and eventually finding new purpose in Maine through his half-sister's family and their potato farm.

William's plot role deepens as the novel progresses. He orchestrates Becka's escape from her marriage, confronts Trey on the phone, and arranges for his driver to bring Becka to Connecticut. He reveals his prostate cancer to Lucy in early May, a disclosure that reshapes her understanding of his behavior. He drives to Massachusetts to see Bridget and Estelle, returning in tears. He meets Lois Bubar in Orono. He buys a house in Maine. He arranges a surprise visit from Chrissy and Becka in late October. Each of these actions moves the narrative forward while also revealing layers of William's character.

Motivations and Traits

William's primary motivation in the novel's opening is protective. He tells Lucy he only wanted to save her life when she confronts him about his lack of sympathy. This protective instinct extends to his daughters: he urges them to leave New York, arranges Becka's escape from Trey, and later persuades Melvin to quarantine to protect Chrissy and Michael.

The evidence shows William as someone who acts decisively in crises but struggles with emotional intimacy. When Lucy confronts him about his lack of sympathy, he says he only wanted to save her life—a statement that reveals both his practical orientation and his difficulty expressing care in emotional terms. He asks Becka precise questions about Trey's affair—how long it had been going on, where Trey planned to live, whether the other person was married—questions Lucy admits she never would have thought to ask.

William's secret prostate cancer explains much of his behavior. He had surgery in late October that left him impotent and incontinent, and he told no one except his friend Jerry. Lucy reflects that no wonder William couldn't listen to her—what a thing he had been through. His decision to keep this secret reveals a deep-seated privacy and perhaps shame, traits that also surface in his confession about his grandfather's money.

Chronological Arc

William's arc moves from urgency to stillness to reconnection. In early March, he is the one who insists on leaving New York, who watches the news of the escalating crisis, who keeps in touch with Estelle and Bridget. During the first weeks in Maine, he takes over cooking, reads books quickly, and washes his jeans every two days—small rituals that suggest a man trying to maintain order.

In early May, William walks to the World War II submarine guard tower, which prompts discussion of his German POW father and his newly discovered half-sister. He receives Lois Bubar's email through Lucy's publicist and spends an afternoon drafting a reply. He reveals his prostate cancer to Lucy. He drives to Massachusetts to see Bridget and Estelle and returns weeping, saying he is just so sad.

In July, William drives to Orono to meet Lois, bringing homemade brownies. He returns overjoyed, saying Lois loved him. Lucy later realizes William had chosen Maine because his sister lived there—a revelation that reframes his initial insistence on leaving New York.

In August, William tells Lucy he regrets accepting his grandfather's wartime fortune and plans to donate money to a Maine university for potato research. In late September, he reveals he has already bought the Maine house. In late October, he arranges the surprise visit from their daughters. By November, he and Lucy are sharing a bed, and Lucy tells their daughters they have gotten back together. For how these choices land, see the ending explained.

Relationships

With Lucy: The novel traces William and Lucy's relationship from ex-spouses sharing a quarantine to a rekindled partnership. Early on, Lucy finds him bored and dismissive—she could not stand him at times. But his revelation about his prostate cancer shifts her perspective, and his vulnerability in weeping after visiting Bridget and Estelle deepens her sympathy. By the novel's end, they are sharing a bed and planning a future in Maine.

With his daughters: William is protective and practical. He urges them to leave New York, arranges Becka's escape, and later plans the surprise visit. He pays for Becka's therapist. His relationship with Bridget, his daughter with Estelle, is shown through his emotional response to seeing her—he weeps afterward.

With Estelle: William speaks to his ex-wife with affection, laughing with her on the phone. When Lucy asks if he's mad at Estelle, he says she's Estelle—how long can you be mad at Estelle. This suggests a capacity for forgiveness that contrasts with his guardedness elsewhere.

With Lois Bubar: His half-sister is central to his arc. He drafts careful emails, drives to Orono with brownies, and returns overjoyed. He becomes involved with her family's potato farm, helping her nephew Joe with parasites. This relationship gives William a new sense of purpose and belonging in Maine.

With Bob Burgess: Bob arranges the rental house, helps William get medical advice, and later helps set up Lucy's writing studio. Bob also helps William get in to see his doctor for the PSA test.

Key Decisions and Consequences

1. Insisting Lucy leave New York: This decision saves her life, as the pandemic devastates the city. It also forces them into proximity that eventually rekindles their relationship.

2. Keeping his prostate cancer secret: This decision isolates William and explains his emotional distance. When he finally reveals it to Lucy, it transforms her understanding of him.

3. Reaching out to Lois Bubar: This decision gives William a new family connection and a sense of purpose in Maine. It also reveals that he chose Maine because his sister lived there.

4. Buying the Maine house: This decision makes William and Lucy residents of Maine and signals his commitment to their new life together.

5. Donating money to potato research: This decision addresses his guilt about his grandfather's wartime fortune and connects him to his new community.

Themes and Symbols

William embodies several of the novel's central themes. His secret cancer and his grief over his father's death (when William was fourteen) parallel Lucy's grief over David, connecting to the theme of grief and collective trauma. His arc moves from isolation—keeping his cancer secret, living alone after Estelle left—to connection with Lois, with the Maine community, and ultimately with Lucy, reflecting the theme of isolation and connection. His reunion with Lois and his rekindled relationship with Lucy embody family reconciliation. His confession that he has lived the life of a boy and not a real man suggests a reckoning with memory and identity. And his decision to give up his New York life and buy a house in Maine represents a choice about freedom vs. responsibility.

The submarine guard tower serves as a recurring symbol for William. He walks to it in early May, researches its history, and later tells Lucy it reminds him of the world's troubles. The tower connects William's personal history—his German grandfather's wartime profiteering—to the broader collective trauma of the pandemic era.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does William insist on taking Lucy to Maine?

William insists because he believes the pandemic makes New York unsafe. He tells Lucy he only wanted to save her life. The novel later reveals an additional motive: Lucy realizes William had chosen Maine because his half-sister Lois lives there.

2. What does William's prostate cancer reveal about his character?

William kept his cancer diagnosis and surgery secret from everyone except his friend Jerry. This reveals his deep privacy, his difficulty asking for help, and his tendency to bear suffering alone. When he finally tells Lucy, it reframes his emotional distance throughout the early chapters.

3. How does William's relationship with Lois Bubar change him?

Meeting Lois gives William a new family connection and a sense of purpose. He becomes involved with her family's potato farm, helping with parasite research. Lucy observes that William was really excited about the potato work, and his enthusiasm becomes contagious. The relationship also prompts him to confront his mother's secrecy about his half-sister.

4. Why does William weep after visiting Bridget and Estelle?

William drives to Massachusetts to see his daughter Bridget and his ex-wife Estelle. He returns weeping, saying he is just so sad. The evidence suggests the visit was fine—Estelle was kind—but the emotional weight of seeing his daughter and his former wife triggers a grief he cannot articulate.

5. What does William's decision to buy the Maine house signify?

William buys the house in late September, making them residents of Maine. This decision signals his commitment to a new life with Lucy and his embrace of the Maine community. It also represents a break from his New York identity and his past.

For more discussion of William and other characters, see the questions and answers page.