Delusion of Influence Delusions
In this film, Nash’s delusion of influence is shown in the scene in which Nash has to prove his genius as code breaker.
General : […] Weve been intercepting radio transmissions from
Moscow. The computer cant detect a pattern, but Im sure its code.
John Nash : Why is that, General? General
: Ever just know something, Dr. Nash? John Nash : Constantly.
Later, Nash is influenced by Parcher who offers Nash a job working on a top secret mission to seek out secret messages in mainstream media that Russian
are inserting to mobilize U.S. operations. Parcher’s opinion emphasizes Nash’s belief that he is the best code breaker. Nash’s delusion of grandeur as the best
code-breaker is strengthened by his delusion of influence. In Figure 54, a straight angle of Nash’s face shot when he memorized the list of periodicals.
Figure 54
William Parcher : Commit this list of periodicals to memory. Scan each
new issue, find any hidden codes, decipher them. Then, Nash’s job as secret agent becomes increasingly dangerous. After
being chased by the Russians and an exchange of gunfire, Nash becomes increasingly
paranoid and begins to behave erratically. Nash tells Parcher that he
wants to quit from the job because Alicia is pregnant, but Parcher influences Nash to keep working for him by saying that the Russians know that Nash has been
working for him. So, if Nash quit, Parcher will not keep Nash safety from the Russians. He is showing his gun to Nash when he says that Figure 55. In Figure
56, we see Nash’s expression of fear when he heard what Parcher said.
Figure 55 Figure 56
John Nash : William, my circumstance has changed. Alicias
pregnant.
William Parcher : I told you attachments were dangerous. You chose to
marry the girl. I did nothing to prevent it. The best way to ensure everybodys safety... is for you to
continue your work.
John Nash : Well, Ill just quit.
William Parcher : You wont. John Nash
: Why would I not? William Parcher : Because I keep the Russians from knowing you work
for us. You quit working for me, I quit working for you.
Nash’s delusion of influence also appears after he does some treatment in hospital. In this case, his delusions reappear when he stops his medication
treatment as the writer mentioned before in Chapter II that antipsychotic
medication can reduce hallucination and delusion so if he stops the medication it can triggers hallucination and delusion to reappear. That night he sees a
silhouette of a man outside his house. He goes outside the house to the back of his house and surprises when he meets Parcher there. He thinks Parcher is not real
because Dr. Rosen says that Nash is schizophrenic who cannot distinguish between what is real and not. Yet, Parcher influences him that it is impossible to
list their personnel in Wheeler because they are a secret agent. Parcher apologizes to Nash and asks Nash to go back to work as a code breaker. Nash believes in
what Parcher said so he starts to do his work as secret agent.
William Parcher : Its good to see you, John. Its been a while. John Nash
: Parcher? William Parcher : Yes, sir.
John Nash : Youre not real
[…] John Nash
: Dr. Rosen said- William Parcher : Rosen That quack Schizophrenic break from
reality, right? Psychological bullshit Look at me, John. John, look at me. Do I look like Im imagined?
John Nash : Wheeler has no record of you.
William Parcher : Do you think we list our personnel? John, Im sorry
you had to go through all this. Ive gone to a great deal of trouble to get you back. I can restore your
status at Wheeler. I can let the world know what you did. But I need you now, soldier.
John Nash : I was so scared you werent real.
Nash’s delusions of influence also appear when he is influenced by his hallucination friends to kill his wife. It happens while bathing his infant son; Nash
becomes distracted and wanders off. Alicia barely manages to save their child from drowning. When she confronts Nash, he claims that his friend Charles was
watching their son. Alicia runs to the phone to call the psychiatric hospital for emergency assistance. Parcher appears to Nash and urges him to kill his wife
rather than allow her to lock him up again. In Figure 57, from Nash’s POV shot, we see Parcher talks to Nash. In Figure 58, we see Alicia carries the baby and
looks back, but no one there. In Figure 59, we see there are only Nash and Alicia. This is a scene when Nash tries pulls Parcher away from his wife because he tries
to shot Alicia.
Figure 57 Figure 58
Figure 59
William Parcher : Youve got to stop her, John. John Nash
: You leave her out of this. Alicia
: Who are you talking to? John Nash
: Its not her fault. Alicia
: John. William Parcher : Shell compromise us again.
John Nash : No, she wont. Youll go back to the hospital.
Alicia : John, answer me
William Parcher : Countless people will die. John Nash
: Alicia, please, put the phone down. William Parcher : I cant let that happen.
Alicia : Yes, hello? Hi, I need Dr. Rosen. Is he in?
William Parcher : Im sorry, John. John Nash
: No-oo Alicia? [Baby crying] William Parcher : You know what you have to do, Nash.
Alicia : Get away from me.
In this time, Charles also tries to convince Nash to do what Parcher says and Marcee also appears see Appendix 3.
Charles : John, Christ, John, please do what he says.
William Parcher : Move, soldier. Now. Marcee
: Uncle John? Charles
: John, please
There is another scene that shows Nash’s delusions still appear when Nash is doing his social treatment to socialize in Princeton University. Parcher appears
and tries to influence Nash by saying that he is a useless man. In Figure 60, we see Parcher follows Nash and tries to influence him. In Figure 61, a shot of Nash
in long shot tries to ignore Parcher. In Figure 62, a shot of Hansen who tries to make Nash calm.
Figure 60 Figure 61
Figure 62
William Parcher : Is this what you are, soldier? Some useless ghoul? The
local madman?
John Nash : Im not a soldier.
William Parcher : Youre gonna end up in a cell Old, worthless,
discarded.
John Nash : Theres no mission.