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[Willie's] mind was full of the flight that lay ahead. He was going to make May his wife. He did not know what manner of life they would find together, and he did not care now."

The narrator of The Caine Mutiny tells us this as Willie departs from interrupting May Wynn's rehearsal after decommissioning the Caine. This passage is proof that Willie has fully matured and is living the advice his father gave him in his last letter. In that letter, Mr. Keith cited Ecclesiastes, which says, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Willie is living in the moment and putting all of his effort into making May his wife, regardless of money or future difficulties. He has realized that regret will be the only thing that matters when he dies, and is working to eliminate all traces of it.

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