Physical and Mental Limits in the Movie: A Beautiful Mind

The film A Beautiful Mind, tells the story of John Nash, a famous mathematician, who begins to suffer from schizophrenia during his research at the University of Princeton. The film presents some of the battles Nash went through as he tried to carry on his mathematical research. The film addresses a major issue in society: the capability for individuals with a mental illness to perform in society. The article, “The Patient Scientist” also addresses the issue of performance in society; the article concentrates its attention on a doctor who suffers from cancer. Mental and physical deficiencies do not hinder the ability to be a productive member of society. The drive that the individual has and the resources that are made available are better indicators of productivity for those with mental or physical limitations.

The article the “The Patient Scientist”, tells the story of a doctor who has pancreatic cancer. The author, Katherine Harmon articulates some of the things that the doctor, Ralph M. Steinman went through as he was combating his cancer. Steinman was enthusiastically involved with his research, moreover the research he completed early in his career would come to assist him fight his cancer: “In 2007 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, an unforgiving disease that kills four out of five patients with a year. In the end, the cells he discovered at the start of his career, and the friends he made along the way, would not only help him fight his cancer but would extend his life just long enough for him to earn the Noble Prize” (Harmon 261). Steinman was placed in unusual position: most people who suffer from cancer do not have the knowledge that he had. Despite his physical limits he choose to use his knowledge to continue h...

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...k there unless he was able to manage his illness; he had to find some way to control the visions. Nash was able to ignore the imaginary people, and perform great work at Princeton: his efforts at Princeton won him a noble prize. In spite of Nash’s mental limitations he was able to continue the research that he loved. Without that determination Nash would not have been able to carry on his work.

Willpower is a superior indicator of someone’s ability to perform in society as compared to the physical and mental ability of the person. Steinman was able to continue his research as well as treat patients while he was suffering from cancer. Because of his determination he was able to continue his work. In comparison, Nash was also able to lead a normal life despite the limitations that were placed upon him. Both Nash and Steinman were determined to lead a productive life.