I ended last time by asking, simply, what is the story Good Will Hunting saying to us?

How about this? What do you believe will bring you the most happiness and fulfillment in this life?

– Success in a career, and the wealth and possibly fame that can accompany this? Is this what makes you someone?

– Or is life about relationships, and most of all romantic relationship? And is loving another to the best of your ability the one thing, above all else, the thing you were made for, the highest and best purpose of your life?   

If you think about it, this basic question is examined in the story in every one of Will’s significant relationships — his best friend, his new girlfriend, and his therapist. And it is examined very closely in the conflict between his therapist and the math professor. As a matter of fact, it is responsible for almost every word that leaves their lips.

In the simplest of terms, Will has the opportunity for both success and love. His math aptitude can open the door with almost any defense contractor or think tank; but he also meets a young lady, begins to fall in love, and then needs to decide whether he is going to continue with her, or end this relationship when she leaves for the West Coast to go to medical school.

This issue comes up first with the girlfriend, Skylar, who attends Harvard because of her trust money; whereas Will is a poor kid with all the rough edges. Could she ever be truly interested in someone like him long term? Will wonders.

And the same basic issue comes up with Will and his best friend near the end of the story. Chuckie (played by Ben Affleck), scolds him for not wanting to use his math skills to get a high paying job, for not wanting to advance in life and have more than any of them have ever been able to have. Will feels this way because he is so loyal to his friends, and never wants to leave them. They are, in truth, all he has ever had. When you look at it this way, Will’s resistance to success makes sense. And even though there is nothing inherently wrong with success and wealth, it is also true they can never make you happy. Will has already decided to let his girlfriend leave for the West Coast and has said goodbye, but his motive for this was his insecurity that she could never truly love him because of their class difference.

And the same issue comes up again between Sean, Will’s therapist; and Gerald, the math professor. Turns out the two were college roommates, both exceedingly bright, and Gerald went on to not only to be a great mathematician, but won the Fields Medal, the greatest award a mathematician can receive. Gerald is arrogant and narcissistic, clearly believing he is something really special, although he tries to pretend different. Sean ends up teaching at a community college and seems satisfied with it. The contrast between the two was made this extreme to make the point.

But Sean’s greater focus was always on his wife, who died after a long battle with cancer. It is Gerald who actually refers Will to Sean, but only for the purposes of the court and only so Will can spend math time with Gerald. Gerald very much wants Will to become a great mathematician, but mostly so he can bask in the glory of the disciple that he discovered. Before the movie is done, the two have more than one argument over what is more important, Will’s potential success as a mathematician, or the fact he is emotionally and developmentally delayed because of the abuse and neglect he suffered as a child. To anyone with any sense, the latter would always be more important, and the first thing that needs attending to; but not to Gerald, who cannot even see Will’s mental health as an issue.

And so, maybe we can stop here for now. And you know, another incredible movie painted this exact same picture with a different brush. It is the movie La La Land. A beautiful story which asks the exact same question – which is more important, success or romance? And you know, it does not have to be either or, but one would clearly have to be primary, with the other secondary.

Next time,

Sam