Schizophrenia In John Howard's A Beautiful Mind

John went through most if not all the symptoms of schizophrenia. John’s wife, Alicia, who was pregnant

John knew he could live with his wrongdoing for his children but then he heard that Glies Cory died by being crushed to death for refusing to go to trial. What really was the last straw was when he saw Rebecca Nurse being brought in and refusing to confess a crime she didn't commit. He then realizes again that honor is more important and proceeds to rip up his signed confession.

The first conflict John faces is the loss of his mother. Tabby’s death both angers and upsets John. In any case, losing your mother is a horrible. It was especially unfortunate for John because he has no idea who his true father is. He is irritated that she never even got around to telling him who his real father is. It even makes him more resentful when he finds out she lived sort of a second life as “The Lady in Red”. The most tragic of John’s experiences is the sacrificial death of Owen Meany. John is absolutely traumatized by the death of Owen. Owen’s death is the reason John lives in Canada, hates America, and is stuck in the past. John still hasn’t even come close to getting over Owen’s death, and he never will. John even ends his memoir with “O God-please give him back I shall keep asking You!” (617). The trauma John has gone through has even damaged him sexualy. He is still a virgin and has never felt sexual desire. Katherine’s husband describes him as a “non-practicing homosexual” but he believes that his problems are caused by his

When John was led back into life in the futuristic society, he was mocked and treat as a strange attraction. He was at the awful end of a sick joke - people came from all over to understand this simple “savage” who has spent his life in curiously primitive manners. John was so poorly received, he went as far as wanting to commit

She constantly has to hide her thoughts and ideas to protect herself from John’s disappointment in her. John’s power dynamic is negative, resulting in mass hysteria as too much negative energy tends to outweigh the positive energy his wife continues to portray through everything she is enduring. Despite that, John’s overwhelming amount of negative energy leads his wife to slowly break free from his control. As she begins to become “a little afraid of John'' (Gilman 58), she learns that she is not fully under his control. The narrator realizes that she can have a dramatic release from John’s grasp of her life.

She has internalized John’s authority to the point that she practically hears his voice in her head, telling her what to think. She cannot help but feel the way she does, and so the move she makes at the end—focusing on the house instead of her situation—marks the beginning of her slide into obsession and madness. John is a symbol of her mental illness because it shows his authority over her and how she thinks she is not loved by anyone especially her husband. “His family has gotten into the habit of putting in his room things for which they could not find any other place, and now there were plenty of these, since one of the rooms in the apartment had

Although tender and caring, John played a significant role in causing the narrator’s descent into ‘madness’. By taking on the role of a physician and a husband, John symbolises the stronghold power men had over women in the past. Instead of respecting his wife’s request for some form of mental stimulation, John insists that she takes on the ‘rest’ treatment. The treatment only focuses on the physical condition of the patient, and not the emotional or mental

The room that John picks out for his wife is upstairs and secluded. There are bars on the windows and the wallpaper has patches that have been ripped off. Would you want to stay in a room like this after already suffering from depression and anxiety? She tells him that she expected a room “downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window.” (217). However, she walks in to find a bed that is nailed to the floor. Imagine how scary that would be! John assures his wife and their family that she is fine. He thinks she will get better being in this room away from everyone and everything. Her “brother is also a physician and he says the same thing.” (216). She is placed into an uncomfortable environment and is made to be alone against her will. This is one of the reasons she loses her mind.

John is determined to get her better through his medicinal means he uses elixirs and different concoctions to get her better. Also taking her to the vacation style mansion just so she can get away

John’s story is told in a first-person view, which contributes to the insight of the mind of a sociopath. It’s one thing to see John’s decent into his own hell from a third-person view, you understand the feelings and emotions racing through his head well enough; it’s another thing entirely to live his decent, to see first-hand how much his obsession is killing him inside. For someone void of emotions, John pours his heart out within the pages of this book, and every moment of it is seen, heard, and felt. John gives a powerful statement about serial killers here, “People wanted the explanation to be as big and flashy as the killings themselves, but the truth was far more terrifying: true terror doesn't come from giant monsters but from small, innocent-looking people"

In the movie A Beautiful Mind, which primarily takes place in the 1950s, John Nash exhibits signs of schizophrenia. He shows both positive and negative signs of the disorder. However, the movie does not portray all symptoms of schizophrenia accurately. Throughout Nash’s life-long battle with his illness, his family is dramatically affected. Overall, the movie implements a positive stigma of the disorder. While John Nash’s journey with his illness is not an entirely accurate depiction, the movie gives a positive light and awareness to schizophrenia.

To answer a rhetorical question, the narrator writes the entire story in secrecy, and reveals all true feelings, whether good or bad. “I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus -- but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad.”. This isolation is reflected in both the narrator’s writing, and her life. John does not often allow her to be visited, even by family. He treats the idea of company like a reward, something that would be received when her health is superior, “When I get really well, John says we will ask Cousin Henry and Julia down for a long visit ; but he says he would as soon put fireworks in my pillow-case as to let me have those stimulating people about now.”. With no timeframe in mind, the narrator lives in a constant state of wonder, with no outcome visible. John believes that her illness is frivolous, if even existent. It is incredibly plausible that John is embarrassed by his wife’s mental state, and aims to save himself from the exposure due to it. His skittish actions line up with the idea, and

Once John returned home, Alicia was responsible for giving him his medication, monitoring his attitude, along with taking care of their son and the daily chores. John began slowed down and tired from his drugs and was unable to work, which made Alicia the sole provider for the household. Alicia is rapid to discover that John has stopped taking his medication, at the time of discovering his work in the shed. John’s illness petrifies Alicia after their baby nearly drowned and when he pushed Alicia and the baby into the wall. Nevertheless, Alicia remains devoted to her husband and makes a crucial decision to remain with him, to help support him and his illness.

John did not realize that Charles, Marcee, and Parcher were never there. His delusions were everywhere and also helped make some decisions. When John proposed to Alicia, it was Charles his delusion who suggested it. The whole time John thinks he is fine. When he would actually take his medication he would be zone out like a zombie. While John was in his own world, Alicia had to keep things stable around this house. Alicia worked and also took care of their young son. She was a huge support for John. When things really gotten bad, she could have left John but she did not. In the movie, John was so into his delusions he did not realize his son was under water. John thought Charles was watching over the young boy. Alicia felt enough was enough because he was not changing, and he had also secretly stopped taking his

Alicia Nash, which is John’s wife, complaints that John is involved in “non fictional” activities such as cutting out articles, and creating a mirage to try to solve the pieces of the puzzle. John is very alert, watchful, and suspicious of everything and everyone. John keeps secrets from his wife and chooses not to tell her about his activities. He talks to himself and can be heard talking to imaginary people. His job is in jeopardy because he failed to complete daily task.