Theory of Everything: A story of life’s obstacles

The Oscar Award winning film, The Theory of Everything, is based on a true story of how British scientist, Stephen Hawking, became famous for his scientific theory of black holes. Not only was he famous for his groundbreaking theories, but he was also famous for doing his work while going through the disease of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or Lou Gehrig’s disease. British actor, Eddie Redmayne won the Best Actor Award for his superior performance as Hawking.

The movie began as a romantic film, showing how Stephen Hawking and Jane Wilde grew to like one another after meeting once at a dinner party. Their love progressed from just friends to going to fairs or dinners with family. Even though Jane was religious, Hawking still liked her. Later on in life, Hawking started to believe in the same religion as Wilde because of his illness. The lesson that the audience can obtain from the movie is how it is not about religion or looks, but rather the personality of someone. Hawking and Wilde’s relationship demonstrated this love lesson, but later on throughout the movie the audience sees the true colors of their personalities and how life was a struggle for both of them.

When Hawking is diagnosed with ALS, the audience sees the progression from how he was unable to hold the chalk as he worked out mathematical theories of black holes, to him falling face first onto concrete while walking to class. He did not even want to tell Jane until they were out playing ball; he could not even hit the ball in the right direction. After he finally told her the news about his illness, he was also told that he only had two years to live, they decided to marry right away. Hawking graduated soon after with an honors degree in Natural Science. Not long after, the couple had two children just before his disease spread throughout his body.

As the movie continued, the audience was able to see how much worse Hawking got with the disease. His speech started to slur, and he could not control his muscles in his face and hands. At one point, Jane got mad at her husband for not being able to feed himself, and it was as if she had become heartless towards her husband. Later on, she gets him a wheelchair and just placed it in front of him without saying a word. She did not even help him into the chair, and he just slumped down into it.

Consequently, as Hawking’s illness worsened, Jane realized that she needed help. Jonathan, a choir director for the church she attended, offered to help. The audience later realizes that he and Jane had feelings for one another, which ultimately resulted in Jane’s infidelity as well as a child with Jonathan. She pretended that the baby belonged to her and Hawking, which was not possible given his condition.

The Theory of Everything is not your typical love story with a fairy-tale happy ending; instead, it is a story about the struggles of life, and the strength it takes to overcome obstacles despite situations that are out of your hands.

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