Character Analysis
Iron Will
The quality that really stands out in our protagonist, Dan Millman, is his will (or perseverance: see Theme 5). Socrates says of Dan:
“I didn't decide to teach you because of any unique capacity you possessed—as a matter of fact, you have glaring weaknesses along with your strong points—but [because] you have the will to make this journey.” (4.78)
Think about it. Most of us can't stick to a diet for two weeks. Meanwhile, Dan not only trains himself to become a champion gymnast, but does so after a leg-shattering injury the doctor says will keep him for performing ever again. He goes to school all day—including training in the gym—and then studies and trains with Socrates all night. When does he even sleep? He struggles some, of course, but overall, it's with solid discipline that he meditates, sticks to Socrates' rigorous diet, and sharpens his senses—in short, he follows the way of the peaceful warrior toward unreasonable happiness with real will.
Let It Go
His perseverance doesn't just manifest itself in athletic or mental feats. He also verbally spars with Socrates, who is no easy person to verbally spar with. Here's how he puts it early in the book:
“I knew that it was time to return to the warrior's world, to that strange little gas station—this time perhaps more open and more humble than before. But now I was more sure of one thing. If Socrates cut at me with his sharp wit again, I was going to slash right back.” (P.283)
He even becomes so dedicated to his peaceful-warrior training and defeating his fear of death that he retires from gymnastics right after winning the major championship, knowing via Socrates' teachings that achievements aren't where it's at. He wants to find unreasonable happiness instead. Actually, his perseverance becomes a problem in that he can't give up the need to search, and giving that up is a prerequisite to being happy.
Socrates sends him away to live an ordinary life. Here again, Dan's will quickly shines. He muddles through a few years working in sales, but it isn't long before he takes up his training again—if in less intense form—and travels the world looking for answers. He just won't give up.
Finally, of course, he sells everything and seeks to overcome his fear of death in the mountains. Sells everything! That's pretty risky right there. Dan successfully passes through the gate (see Symbols, Imagery, Allegory), finds unreasonable happiness, and soon after marries Joy.
That's the basic gist of Dan. What else about him is notable, though? We might say he's a little crude and boorish toward women, which we discuss in our Steaminess Factor section. He doesn't talk much at all about his family, either his parents or his first wife and daughter.
Really, when it comes to Dan, it's all about his will and perseverance to surpass the ups and downs of his journey toward peaceful warriorhood. That's what we remember; that's who he is.
Timeline