THERE'S A BRIEF BUT TELLING SCENE at the end of Ron Howard's film A Beautiful Mind where the central character, John Nash, a man who has been terrorized by delusions, sees the three "characters" who have been his nemeses during a long bout with schizophrenia. They stand to the side as he prepares to leave the ceremony recognizing his work as a Nobel Prize-winning economist. He glances over at them, but he turns and continues on his way.
The mere presence of these characters in Mr. Nash's consciousness is not a sign of defeat, but merely a marker of his progress. And in turning away from them, he proclaims his victory over fear and insanity. He has taken possession of his life by recognizing his "demons" as unreal, though appearing to be so—as the film so graphically portrays.
Though Mr. Howard's film is based on the book of the same title by Sylvia Nasar, this scene is not in the book. Rather, it appears to be the filmmakers' illustration of how one can overcome fear. And it offers lessons for anyone living with any kind of terrorism.
