MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - The Theory of Everything broke my heart.

Big time spoiler alert if you haven't seen this movie, which you should.

I've been a huge fan of Stephen Hawking since the 80's, when I was still in school. I was already taking courses on cosmology and astrophysics as electives for fun (nerd alert) when I encountered his theories, and then of course I read his book. This was at a time before I had my doctorate, and at that time I was so enamored by the science of cosmology, I ALMOST changed doctoral programs. That's what a huge fan i was of his... he almost changed the course of my life forever. In the end, I didn't, so of course I didn't get a doctorate in cosmology after all... but I've remained a huge fan of his, and read all his papers.

But of course I knew nothing of his private life.

Watching the movie, I was so proud of his wife, who stood by him through his trials and education, and loved him for the man inside. It's a rare woman who loves man for his mind. About Stephen's wife, I was like, now bully for her... she not only stuck by her nerdy science man, she loved and cared for him as disease ravaged his body too. She saw herself as just a smaller part of a bigger picture, and that takes courage.

Spoiler alert now.

And then he left her?!? What the hell, Stephen! I couldn't believe that was true. I had to Google that shit when I got home. Ok, ok. So I get that he was the bigger man to turn his cheek when she found a lover, even giving her permission sort of... but dude, she stood by you! And, for your sake, kept her private life a secret for your reputations sake. I know the movie took great pains to lesson the blow, and make it not seem so bad, and kind of show him to be selfless about it by letting her go... but in the end, yeah, he dumped her. Ugh. I don't ride on his wheels, so who's to judge. But if you're in the uber-nerd club, and a severely handicapped one at that, and life still manages to find love for you, man, you hang on to that shit!

Life isn't a fairytale after all it seems, not even for the immortal ones.

Edit to add: been doing some more reading. It seems he dumped his second wife, and is now close again with his first wife! Give that woman sainthood!

Edited by Gatinho (12/21/14 07:05 AM)