The Theory of Everything

Stephen Hawking, a future scientist who attended Cambridge University in the 1960s, falls in
love with Jane Wilde. Hawking discovers he has motor neuron disease at the age of 21.
Despite this, and with Jane by his side, he starts an ambitious study of time, of which,
according to his doctor, he has very little left. He and Jane overcome overwhelming obstacles,
make scientific and medical advancements, and accomplish more than they could have ever
imagined. Equally inspiring, at least for a time, is Jane Hawking’s care for her husband. For
years, she’s a model of perseverance and love, compassionately laying down virtually
everything in her life to serve her husband’s vast needs. But despite the very best of intentions,
both Jane and Stephen stray from their marriage vows. The film seeks to help us understand
how such an outcome might occur, and neither is portrayed as a villain or a cheater. Instead,
they’re just two people whose ability to cope with Stephen’s illness together reaches the
breaking point. I realize, of course, that that’s what happened in real life. It’s not a Hollywood
ending; there’s no happily ever after here. And that actually increases my feeling of deep

sadness that Jane’s determination to serve Stephen throughout his life ultimately wasn’t
enough to make their marriage work. In the end, she does indeed face “a very heavy defeat,”
just as her father predicted, if not the particular defeat he had in mind . Most times, we're
going to underestimate our capabilities and more often than that, people will have far worse
estimation than ours. Let other people worry about our shortcomings while we work on

improving our lives and making ourselves stronger.