MovieChat Forums > The Theory of Everything (2014) Discussion > Reading Jane's Book its Clear That

Reading Jane's Book its Clear That

posted 8 years ago by joyceday
5 replies | jump to latest

they made Stephen a lot nicer and nobler for the movie then he is or was in real life. I don't get the feeling that Jane was on a quest to make him look bad (not done reading the book though) but he is shown to have been extremely selfish and self-centered. As example, for years he adamantly refused her pleas to bring in nurses to help her especially after they had two children to relieve the stress and non-stop physical exhaustion she was experiencing. As a result their oldest son Robert from age nine was having to help her exceedingly basically robbing him of his childhood. There are so many other instances I could mention and I'm only about half done with the book and the part where he left her for his nurse is yet to come. After reading the book I don't think I can watch the movie again because it is very romanticized whereas the reality was far, far worse.

[–] sunchick116-872-583383 8 years ago

I haven't read the book but i think it's a bit unfair to say she ROBBED the children of their childhood. i have an older sister (by 4 years) and she loved taking care of me so much (i have spina bifida) when she and her husband moved into their first home, they paid extra to have the first floor converted into a bedroom and bathroom for me. that being said, yes the 2nd half of the movie is always a bit ruined for me, not because stephen refused help or anything, but b/c he's so ungrateful. so many years, Jane was there for him and cared for him and he leaves her for his nurse? GTFO.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] louiseculmer 8 years ago

the nurses themselves seem to have often been the cause of stress, Jane had a lot of trouble with them. And I don't think robert had a deprived childhood, he did well at school and has done well since. And really there is no reason why he shouldn't have helped out a bit, children usually like to feel they can be useful.

[–] brainbuster888 8 years ago

Do you always believe the first person who tells you a story
has told you the accurate version of the story.

OF COURSE the book that Jane wrote is going to make her look like a saint.
When I watched the movie, without even knowing it was written by Jane
I predicted it had been. And I was right.
It's obvious that she is portrayed as a perfect angel,
and then out of the blue Stephen abruptly leaves her for another woman.

Is that how it actually happened? Doubtful.

[–] sethman-50117 8 years ago

I thought he was a dick in the movie so he must be real head case in real life.