1. How did the main character John Nash’s personality change from the first third of the movie?

What was his

personality like? How did the main character see himself? Did he interact with others?

In the beginning of the movie, John Nash is shown to be a quiet, soft-spoken mathematical genius with

an odd personality. He is withdrawn from his colleagues, although very competitive, and has a loss of interest in

social activities.

John saw himself as a brilliant mathematician, even to the point of not attending classes in graduate

school because it was “a waste of time”, and calling his classmate’s published theories “unoriginal”. John spent

most of his graduate school days researching on his own original theory, mostly talking to and taking the advice

of his “roommate” Charles Hermann, who we later find out is a character of his delusions. He mentioned to

Charles that a teacher once described him as being “born with two helpings of brain and a half-helping of heart”,

which tells us that Nash’s intellectual and social aspects are on different sides of a spectrum. John also interacts

with William Parcher, another figment of his delusions, who offers him a job for a government “top secret

mission”.

As the movie progresses, we are shown that John Nash’s personality doesn’t change. In fact, his odd

demeanor and inability to socially interact deepens as his mental illness develops progressively. This is a

glimpse into how schizophrenia affects the mentally ill. The delusions and hallucinations are more like triggers

to the patient’s paranoia.

2. Describe John and Alicia's relationship. What are the things that attract them to each other? What do you

think are the most important elements of a good relationship? How does a strong foundation enable their

relationship to continue during tough times?

 John and Alicia’s relationship is remarkable. In the beginning of the movie, we are shown that John is

terrible at socializing, and especially at talking to women, who are put off by John’s awkward demeanor and

directness of his sexual advances. When we are introduced to Alicia's character, we as the audience expect the

same reaction to John’s awful attitude. Alicia defies this expectation, and apparently seems to be attracted to

John’s straightforwardness.

A good relationship is one where both parties can rely on one another, no matter what challenges they

are going through. Because they are committed to one another, they have this sense of obligation to keep the

other’s best interests at heart. This is how John and Alicia’s relationship survives the impending consequences

of John’s mental illness. Alicia stands by John even when she is physically drained and mentally exhausted.

When John asks her to trust him that he would be able to find a solution to his illness, she doesn’t shut him out,

and instead supports his decision while also helping him figure out how to live a life with his illness.

3. Describe the setting in this film. How do these settings contribute to themes related to the continuous pursuit

of knowledge?

The film is set in the 1950s, a few years after the start of the Cold War, the rivalry between the United

States and the Soviet Union. It was a time where people were very cautious, and fear of Soviet surprise attacks

were common. This fear of danger was the backdrop to John Nash’s delusions triggered by paranoia mixed with

his real-life fears.

This was also a time where research works were significant due to technological advancements being

made. This is important to note in the context of this movie because John Nash’s brilliant mind and genius were

a big asset to the US government, or so he thought in his delusional mind.

4. What are some specific behaviors Nash exhibits that alert Alicia of a problem? How does Alicia support her

husband through this episode? What would you have done? Explain your answer?

Alicia notices that there are problems when John acts paranoid even when there is no immediate danger.

In the episode where John is afraid and tells her to leave the house for protection, Alicia calls on a psychiatrist,

Dr. Rosen, to help John. Alicia supports John while he goes through weeks of insulin shock therapies.

When John relapses after discontinuing his medications, Alicia again calls on Dr. Rosen, but instead of

taking him back to the hospital, she chooses to support John in his decision to refuse the shock therapies. She

doesn’t leave him, and helps him get through his delusional episodes and adjust back to a normal life while

living with his delusions.

If I were in Alicia’s place, I would let my partner go through therapy because I think the medications

helped stop the delusions from occurring, I would also want my partner to stop being haunted by hallucinations,

so even though the medications had side effects, I believe in the chance that they will eventually make my

partner better.

5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Nash's antipsychotic medications? What are the consequences

of Nash's family for getting off his medications? Why do you think it is so difficult to keep mentally ill patients

on their medications?

The insulin shock therapies, and antipsychotic medications given to John Nash cleared his delusions.

They cured him of his paranoia and allowed him to stop being a danger to himself and the people around him.

However, the adverse effects of these medications were another type of harm to his life, his work, and his

relationships. He began to feel sedated most of the time, and was unable to think properly and clearly, affecting

his work and research. His sexual dysfunction secondary to the medications also affected his relationship with
his wife, who had begun to feel physically and mentally exhausted because of Nash’s illness. He also could not

properly take care of his son.

Tired of being a useless husband and father, Nash decides to discontinue his medications. This leads him

to experience once again his delusions mixed with paranoia and fear of a non-existing threat to him and his

family. Because he is again seeing his “roommate Charles”, he asks him to watch over his infant son who is in

the bathtub while a storm is ongoing. His son almost drowns as a consequence, but is saved by his wife who had

recently discovered that Nash is once again experiencing delusions. Because of the danger Nash posed to his

own son, his wife decides to call on Dr. Rosen to help Nash get under control.

One barrier to receiving medications for mental illnesses is the desire to receive care. Most mentally ill

patients do not understand that they are mentally ill in the first place. They have no idea that they are sick, and

that they need to be treated. Oftentimes, the mentally ill patient is forced or tricked into taking medications.

There is also the fear of being perceived negatively by the public. The patient may refuse to be treated because

he is aware of the stereotypes attached to people who are being treated for mental illnesses.

6. Who is William Parcher? Why does Nash think he was selected by Parcher for this important mission?

Compare reality to Nash's perceptions. What do you think motivates Nash's delusions? How is Nash able to

conceal his delusions up to this point?

William Parcher is a character of John Nash’s delusions. Nash first meets him when Parcher offers him a

job as a “codebreaker” for a “top-secret mission”. Nash thinks he was selected by Parcher because in his

delusional state, he imagined Parcher secretly observing him as he brilliantly cracks a code for the Pentagon.

John Nash’s confidence in his mathematical prowess, and the belief that he should be doing more than just

teaching kids in graduate school motivates his delusions. Because he is shown to be such a genius and a brilliant

code breaker, the idea that he is chosen for a government top-secret mission is believable, and tricks the
audience of the film into thinking that he really is a spy, and is being targeted by Soviet officials for a good half

of the movie.

Econ 2
International Business Trade
and
Agreement
(Final Requirement)

Bernabe, Ed Vincent
Cangmaung, Francis Jay
Desoyo, Ariane Troy
Navarro, Miguel Dominic