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Neil is a complex man whose charm and intelligence mask a tragic personal history and deep suffering. Allusions to Neil and his life precede his arrival in the story to paint a mysterious picture of Maury’s elusive half-brother as someone who’s successful despite adversity and is doted on by his mother. As a respected doctor, husband, and father, Neil’s life is emblematic of the typical measures of success that should make him happy, according to society. However, unhappiness surrounds him—his wife is bitter, the rest of his family rarely sees him, and he is an alcoholic. When Neil eschews his responsibility to his family by bailing with Grace in tow on Thanksgiving, it reveals his selfishness.

Grace, through her immaturity, misinterprets these actions as a kind of radical independence. Grace is drawn to Neil because she empathizes with his pain and glamorizes and romanticizes his descent into escapism. Neil’s true character as a sad, lecherous drunk becomes clear as Grace accompanies him on illegal booze runs, although it does not erase compassion for how he became that way. Neil’s life is a tragic one. His father's suicide and his own mental health struggles and alcoholism are glossed over and ignored by his family as he falls deeper into depression. Ultimately, these struggles result in Neil taking his own life.

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