In the play he is in a low position in two senses. Firstly he appears from beneath a trap door, as Mrs Hepworth says, "He's like a rabbit." Secondly, he is a boot maker and has the lowest position in Hobson's business. He takes orders from everyone and knows his place is at the bottom. Will is described as, "not naturally stupid but stunted mentally" at the beginning of the play when really he is just uneducated. He has difficulty reading Mrs. Hepworth's card, "His lips move as he tries to spell it out." He does however have "hidden potentialities" which both Maggie and Mrs. Hepworth can see. This potential greatness is why they have such faith in him and it is repaid when he succeeds. Maggie calls him a, "natural born genius at making boots" and a, "natural fool at all else." This is not completely correct. He is not stupid just ignorant and with guidance from Maggie he becomes a successful businessman. The audience also sees his raw talent in the beginning and want him to do well. By the end of the play they understand Maggie's pride in her husband because his hard work is rewarded. .
Will himself realises he is limited and his low confidence shows when he says, "I"m not much good at out but leather and that's a fact." He is a pushover to begin with and is manipulated by people like Hobson, Ada Figgins and her mother. He is even informally engaged to Ada without really knowing how or why. He goes along with arrangement because he fears what will happen if he doesn't: "He"ll whimper tonight when my mother sets about him". Maggie realises what is going on and boldly scares Ada away. This is partly because of her own plans for Will, but also if he marries Ada her plan is over before it has begun. Will does not understand and carries on trying to push Maggie away. This emphasises Will's ignorance, as he is only bothered about what Ada's mother is going to do to him, and does not realise what Maggie is saving him from.
