Mental Illness in “A Beautiful Mind”

Last Updated: 17 Apr 2020
Pages: 2 Views: 457

Ron Howard’s movie “A Beautiful Mind” starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly portrays the journey and the man behind the mental illness that Nobel Prize winner and Princeton intellectual John Nash develops late in his adulthood. The plight of the mentally ill is very well developed in this movie. The movie develops not only the struggle of the victim to overcome the shocking world of abstract and impending doom brought on by the illness, but focuses on the effects that the family of the victim suffer as well.

Through Nash’s relationship with his wife, viewers see how spouses desperately try to help their mates face reality, but the illness seems to be more overpowering than even the strongest most patient love. Nash’s wife was the ultimate support system, but even she had a breaking point; when Nash almost fatally injures his baby, his wife could no longer endure the illnesses’ debilitating effects. Having a strong support system is essential for someone suffering from a mental illness, and often, victims will find themselves alone or institutionalized because the illness is more than the sane can deal with.

Order custom essay Mental Illness in “A Beautiful Mind” with free plagiarism report

feat icon 450+ experts on 30 subjects feat icon Starting from 3 hours delivery
Get Essay Help

They can’t stand to see the person they love changed so dramatically that reality is so obscured. It is hard for anyone to put themselves in the place of the victim and be empathetic or sympathetic, especially when the disease gets so destructive that there is little left of the person who once occupied that body and mind. This movie did an excellent job at illustrating what supportive family and friends can do for a person suffering from mental illness, but does not mask the severity or the complexity of the disease or the complicity in dealing with it and helping a victim survive mental illness.

Cite this Page

Mental Illness in “A Beautiful Mind”. (2016, Jul 20). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/mental-illness-in-a-beautiful-mind/

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Run a free check or have your essay done for you

plagiarism ruin image

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy

Save time and let our verified experts help you.

Hire writer