02. Onset and Start (A Beautiful Mind)

 At the film's beginning, John is portrayed as a brilliant and socially awkward graduate student at Princeton University. He exhibits signs of unusual behavior and unconventional thinking patterns, which initially appear to be eccentricities of his genius. However, as the story progresses, subtle signs of the onset of schizophrenia begin to emerge. 

Martin Hansen refers to John Nash as a “mysterious west vaginia genius" and “The winner of distinguished Carnegie scholarship”

1. Charles Herman
Charles Herman is a delusional character created by John Nash's mind, a projection of his own mind. He serves as Nash's roommate and close friend at Princeton University. Charles represents Nash's internal struggle and the manifestation of his hallucinations As a delusion, Charles plays various roles throughout the movie. At times, he appears as Nash's roommate and close friend from Princeton University, offering companionship and support. He embodies the themes of trust, betrayal, and self-deception that are central to Nash's journey with schizophrenia. 

• Emotional Support: Charles provides emotional support to John Nash during his struggles with schizophrenia. As a close friend and roommate, Charles offers companionship, understanding, and encouragement. He becomes someone whom Nash can confide in and rely on for emotional stability.
• Intellectual Complement: Charles serves as an intellectual complement to John Nash. He possesses social skills, charm, and the ability to navigate social situations effectively. This complements Nash's academic brilliance but limited social abilities, helping Nash bridge the gap between his intellectual pursuits and the outside world.
• Coping Mechanism: The creation of Charles Herman may be a coping mechanism for John Nash to manage the challenges and isolation associated with his mental illness. By imagining a supportive friend, Nash can alleviate feelings of loneliness and find comfort in their presence.
• Emotional Expression: Charles allows Nash to express emotions that may be difficult for him to directly confront. Through the interactions with Charles, Nash can explore a range of emotions and engage in conversations that he may otherwise struggle to have with real individuals.
• Symbol of Normalcy: Charles represents a sense of normalcy and a connection to the world outside Nash's mind. He is a link to the reality Nash desires, providing a glimpse into a life that feels more conventional and socially accepted.

The reason behind this illusion can be attributed to Nash's mental illness, specifically his schizophrenia. In Nash's case, the creation of Charles Herman is a product of his disordered thinking and a coping mechanism to navigate his challenging circumstances.

“It's not my problem, and it's not your problem, it's their problem. Your face isn't ‘Face the wall’. It's out there where you’ve been working.”
~ Charles Herman

2. Nephew
The delusional niece of Charles Herman serves as a representation of John Nash's yearning for emotional connection and companionship. She exists solely within Nash's imagination and plays a significant role in the narrative. 

The delusional niece also reflects Nash's emotional state and longing for a sense of belonging. She represents his yearning for a normal life, despite the challenges imposed by his mental illness. Her character serves as a poignant reminder of Nash's internal battles and the impact they have on his relationships and overall well-being.

• Emotional Connection: The delusional niece symbolizes Nash's yearning for emotional connection and intimacy. She is a representation of his longing for a supportive and loving relationship, which he finds challenging to achieve due to his mental illness.
• Support and Encouragement: The delusional niece often appears to offer encouragement and support to Nash, providing him with emotional solace and reassurance. She acts as a confidante and a source of comfort in times of distress.
• Challenging Nash's Perception of Reality: The delusional niece's presence challenges Nash's perception of reality. As the story progresses, Nash begins to question the authenticity of his relationships, including his connection with the niece. This internal conflict adds complexity to Nash's struggle with distinguishing between delusions and real experiences.
• Reflection of Nash's Emotional State: The delusional niece mirrors Nash's emotional state and represents his longing for normalcy and a sense of belonging. Her character reflects Nash's desire to have meaningful relationships despite the challenges posed by his mental illness.

Her role is primarily to provide insight into Nash's emotional needs and the complexities of his psychological condition.

3. William Parcher

Parcher symbolizes Nash's desires for recognition, significance, and a greater purpose. He manipulates Nash with promises of importance and exploits his brilliance for his own agenda. Parcher's character adds depth to the story by personifying Nash's internal struggles and the battle between reality and illusion.

• Conspiracy and Paranoia: Parcher represents John Nash's paranoia and delusional belief in a grand conspiracy. Parcher recruits Nash to decipher codes and perform secretive work, leading Nash to believe that he is involved in top-secret government assignments. Parcher's presence amplifies Nash's sense of importance and adds an element of suspense and intrigue to the narrative.
• Validation of Intelligence: Parcher's character validates John Nash's exceptional intelligence and mathematical abilities. By engaging Nash in complex assignments, Parcher reinforces Nash's self-perception as a brilliant and influential thinker. This validation contributes to Nash's sense of purpose and reinforces his self-worth.
• Escape from Reality: Parcher serves as an escape from the harsh realities of Nash's life, including his struggles with mental illness and personal difficulties. The illusions created by Parcher provide Nash with a distraction and an alternate world where he can immerse himself in challenging intellectual tasks, distancing himself from his own personal challenges.
• Sense of Importance: Parcher's character offers Nash a sense of importance and purpose beyond his academic achievements. Nash, who desires recognition and significance, finds a sense of fulfillment in the belief that his work is vital for national security. Parcher's presence elevates Nash's self-perception and feeds into his need for a greater purpose.
• Symbolic Representation: Parcher symbolizes the internal conflicts within Nash's mind. He represents Nash's desires for recognition, significance, and purpose, as well as his fears of being watched and the looming threat of a conspiracy. Parcher's character adds depth to the story by personifying Nash's internal struggles and the battle between reality and illusion.

 Parcher's character is a product of Nash's disordered thinking and reflects his own anxieties, paranoia, and desires for significance.

“You’ve got to stop her, John. She’ll compromise us again. You’ll go back to the hospital, countless people will die. I can't let that happen. I am sorry John. She’s too great a risk. Finish her, she knows too much now. You take care of her you pathetic little piece of shit or I’ll take care of you."

~ William Parcher