Character Sketch of Stephen Hawking from Class 8 English Honeydew Book Chapter 7 – A Visit to Cambridge
A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Stephen Hawking from Class 8 English Honeydew Book Chapter 7 – A Visit to Cambridge.
Related:
- A Visit to Cambridge Summary, Explanation
- A Visit to Cambridge Question Answers
- A Visit to Cambridge MCQs
Character Sketch of Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking was such a successful man that his physique could inspire millions. Born with motor neuron disease at a young age, he managed to live decades past the doctors’ predictions. As an example, despite suffering paralysis for most part of his life, Stephen Hawking had a very active brain that greatly benefitted Astrophysics.
Stephen Hawking’s personality captured wit, determination, and humility in a unique way. He was funny even in bad situations, for instance, when he said he was amused when people patronised him. He never let life’s struggles stop him; he had the attitude of ‘laughter is the best medicine’ because when you make jokes you find a way to get over the sadness of life. The one thing about Hawking’s character that was most impressive was that he never used what he believed were his weaknesses as an excuse to allow himself to fall any shorter. Once he said, ‘They should concentrate on what they are good at’, and implied that using what you are good at can solve problems. This was not just for the disabled people, but to anybody having difficulties in life. Hawking’s achievements certainly were inspiring. Through his book titled – ‘A Brief History of Time’, he made complex scientific concepts understandable for a common reader and acted like a gap between the academic and popular, between the normal and extraordinary. He was known throughout the world for his work, as well as being the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, occupied by Isaac Newton in his heyday.
Stephen Hawking was an extraordinarily successful man, but he was down to earth at the same time. He had been physically restricted, but he decided to take advantage of his intellectual potential to enrich millions. He was much more than a scientist, much more than a symbol of human potential; he was a symbol of perseverance. His story is the tragic story of a man whose only strength is in his brain and soul and not in his muscles.
Questions related to the Character Sketch of Stephen Hawking
Q1. What might Stephen Hawking look like physically, and what makes his mind unique?
Q2. How does Stephen Hawking communicate with his voice synthesizer and what does that say about his determination?
Overview of the Story
The chapter is an emotional, thought-provoking account of Writer Firdaus Kanga’s meeting with Stephen Hawking in Cambridge. Also, Stephen Hawking left a huge impression on Firdaus, who also happened to be disabled, and was keen to meet the man. During one of his walking tours, he learns about Hawking, and he called his house, met him and secured a short meeting.
When the writer meets Stephen Hawking, he gasps at the frailness of the man in front of him, but is equally struck by the brilliance spark in the man’s eyes. The meeting is equally awe inspiring. Hawking’s voice synthesizer slows everything down, but every word he utters is meaningful. Hawking talks about the reality of his life. He readily admits he hasn’t been ‘brave’ when managing his disabled condition, saying he just couldn’t help adapting. But this statement brings down the writer Firdaus as he first looked upon him as a great courageous symbol.
Firdaus remembers being impressed after visiting Hawking’s garden. The writer sees him not as a tragic figure, but rather someone who has made great achievements, despite huge hurdles, as he watches him working his wheelchair across a park-like space. It ends with the writer reminding how the meeting with Hawking made him think and realise that his body is constrained, but the mind is unlimited which is what the chapter is about.