OVERLAY REPORT

In the 2016 film *Me Before You*, the primary conflict is a profound ethical and emotional struggle between the two main characters, **Louisa "Lou" Clark** (Emilia Clarke) and **Will Traynor** (Sam Claflin), over **Will's decision to end his life via assisted suicide.** ### **The Primary Conflict** The conflict is a clash of two opposing goals: * **Will’s Goal:** To regain a sense of autonomy by choosing the timing and manner of his death. Having been a highly active, successful, and adventurous man before his accident, he views his life as a quadriplegic as a "half-life" of dependency and physical pain that he no longer wishes to endure. * **Lou’s Goal:** To prove to Will that his life still has value and is worth living. After learning of his plan, she dedicates her employment to creating "adventures" and meaningful experiences for him, hoping that their growing romantic connection will be enough to change his mind. ### **How the Conflict Started** The conflict began approximately two years before the main events of the film, but it is triggered for Lou through a specific discovery shortly after she is hired. 1. **The Catalyst (The Accident):** The backstory reveals that Will was a wealthy, athletic banker who was hit by a motorcycle while crossing a rainy street in London. The accident left him with a spinal cord injury (C5/6 quadriplegia), stripping him of his physical independence. 2. **The Agreement:** Before Lou was hired, Will had already attempted suicide. His mother, Camilla Traynor, discovered him and made a desperate deal with him: if he agreed to live for six more months, the family would then respect his wishes and take him to **Dignitas**, an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland. 3. **The Hiring of Lou:** Lou is hired by Camilla specifically to be a "companion" for those final six months. While Lou is initially told she is there for mental stimulation and care, her true (unspoken) purpose is to provide a reason for Will to want to live. 4. **The Discovery (Specific Detail):** The conflict formally begins for Lou when she **overhears a private, heated argument between Will’s parents.** She learns about Will’s six-month "ultimatum" and his previous suicide attempt. Horrified, she initially wants to quit, but her sister, Treena, convinces her to stay and use the remaining time to "save" him. ### **Development and Resolution** As the film progresses, the conflict shifts from a professional tension to a deeply personal one. Despite falling in love with Lou, Will remains steadfast. During their final vacation in Mauritius, the conflict reaches its climax when Lou confesses her love and begs him to stay. Will’s refusal—and his explanation that "I cannot be the man who just accepts this"—highlights the core of their dispute: Lou believes love should be enough to sustain a life, while Will believes that love cannot replace the loss of his former self and physical agency. The conflict concludes with Will following through on his plan in Switzerland, with Lou eventually choosing to be by his side in his final moments, ultimately respecting his autonomy despite her own grief.