“This is Christy Brown, my son. Genius.”
Christy was born into a loving family. A great big loving Irish family. This extended to his father as well, but Mr. Brown was quite sure that he was loving and accepting of a child who would never amount to any more than a constant strain upon the rest of the family. Unlike her husband, Mrs. Brown seems somehow to recognize something in Christy that is unique and brilliant, but this enlightenment does come to Mr. Brown—or much of anyone else around—until after young Christy has been afforded opportunities to prove it. It is a recurring theme. Christy is kind of like Rudolph: it is only after he has proven himself useful to people that they come around to appreciating him.
“A broke body’s nothing compared to a broken heart.”
Christy is able to overcome the limitations of his cerebral palsy to carve out a successful life according to many people’s definition. But success means more than merely money or fame. It also means love and fulfillment beyond that which money can supply. On this side of the equation, Christy’s ability to overcome the built-in limitations of his disorder is less than successful. Christy’s mother—his one constant supporter throughout his life—is heartbroken herself watching her son desperately strive for love on “normal” terms only to be rejected and fall short.
“All is nothing, therefore nothing must end.”
The failure to enjoy a full live including love and romance and sexuality drives Christy to despair. Upon discovering that the woman he loves and hoped to marry is engaged to another man, but loves him as a friend, Christy publicly explodes in a rage perfectly befitting a man who has had to live his whole life satisfied with platonic affairs. The world shrinks and darkens around him in a moment of despondency which leads to unfiltered thoughts of suicide. Ironically, the very thing which makes it difficult to live a satisfying romantic life—his inability to control all but his left foot—is also the thing that makes committing suicide a very difficult proposition.
