In this blog post, I deeply contemplate the meaning of true love and the choices between life and death through Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You.
It’s been a long time since a book completely absorbed me for an entire day. That book is Jojo Moyes’s novel Me Before You. When I first saw it in the bookstore, I thought the cover was pretty, but its immense thickness made me have no intention of buying it. However, the book became a bestseller, and my interest naturally grew, leading me to start reading it.
Initially, I didn’t expect to finish such a massive novel like Me Before You. Yet, surprisingly, it read incredibly easily to me, and before I knew it, I found myself completely absorbed, oblivious to the passing time. This novel explores the right to choose one’s own death through the tense standoff between someone who wants to die and someone who wants to save them. That tension keeps the reader glued to the pages. Also adapted into a film, Me Before You resonated widely with many readers and was widely shared.
Me Before You unfolds in three parts, centered on the psychological transformation of the protagonist, Louisa Clark. While searching for a new job, Louisa Clark is hired as a temporary caregiver for six months to William Traynor, who is paralyzed from the neck down due to an accident. William had completely lost his will to live after the accident, but Louisa approaches him wearing frumpy clothes and cracking humorous jokes. William initially maintains a cold distance, but gradually begins to open up over time.
One day, Louisa discovers a secret agreement made between William and his parents. The promise was that if William didn’t change his mind about his life within six months, they would respect his decision. Shocked, Louisa desperately tries to save him, pouring all her energy into bringing change to William’s life. As the deadline approaches and a smile begins to appear on William’s face, Louisa confesses her love to him, hoping to shake his resolve.
But contrary to expectations, William remains steadfast in his decision. Despairing, Louisa resolves to leave him, stating she cannot support his choice. Ultimately, however, she respects William’s decision and witnesses his dignified death. Louisa realizes that true love is not about holding him back, but setting him free. Before dying, William leaves Louisa a final message, helping her move forward into a new world.
Jojo Moyes stated she wanted to tackle a subject everyone should ponder at least once before writing this novel. She posed the question, “How should one live life?” and wanted to ask whose choice that truly is. She also wished for readers to consider, “What does it mean to live life to the fullest?”
This book became a bestseller for three main reasons. First, the genre shift. Me Before You begins as a light romantic comedy, but when William’s promise to his parents is mentioned, the story transforms into a heavy romance. Readers are confronted with the question: “Why should we live when despair in the form of death awaits?” Moyes presents the beauty of life and the value of its challenges to readers who started with a lighthearted mindset, skillfully guiding their emotional journey.
Second, it features an uncommon ending. Readers anticipated a happy ending for William and Louisa, but William’s decision was unwavering. While it raises the question of whether his death truly brings Louisa happiness, William’s words changed my perspective: “Living like this might be okay. But this isn’t my life. I loved my life.” This line refers to the vibrant, colorful life he had before the accident. While he was happy to have his beloved by his side, the reality of being unable to do anything only intensified his suffering. William chose death to escape that agony.
Third, the novel features a fresh protagonist setup. In stories about terminal illness, the lover typically takes on the role of comforting the patient. However, in Me Before You, William instead conveys the value of life to Louisa. He encourages her to leave her hometown and experience the wider world, and even through his death, he urges her to embrace new challenges in life.
Furthermore, the fact that William’s terminal condition is framed not as a simple incurable disease but as the controversial topic of euthanasia is another factor that makes this book special. While opposition to euthanasia was strong in the past, shifting social perceptions have established it as a contemporary societal phenomenon. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu also stated, “People have the right to choose when and how they leave this world.” Moyes reflects this change, posing questions to the public through the lens of euthanasia.
Me Before You didn’t become a bestseller by mere chance. The shift in genre, the fresh ending, and the original protagonist setup breathed new life into the book. This freshness drew readers in, stirring deep emotions, and the book secured its place as a global bestseller.
The film adaptation of Me Before You faithfully captured the original’s emotional impact. While adaptations are often criticized for failing to surpass the source material, many readers flocked to theaters to share the same emotions. The film’s intended sentiments and themes resonated deeply with audiences.
Ultimately, humans live to find meaning in life. There is no single correct answer to the questions: “Who has the right to decide what kind of life to live? Who has the right to choose death?” That is why we yearn for new answers, even if they are subjective. Me Before You contains Jojo Moyes’ unique response to these questions. And we read Me Before You today to seek that answer.
