PASSAGE

 

Cambridge was my metaphor for England, and it was strange that when I left it had become altogether something else, because I had met Stephen Hawking there.

 

Word Meaning:

Metaphor: A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else.

 

Explanation:

The author reflects on how, for him, England was synonymous with Cambridge. However, after meeting Stephen Hawking, his perception of England transformed significantly, suggesting that this encounter broadened his understanding and appreciation of the country beyond its geographical confines.

PASSAGE

 

It was on a walking tour through Cambridge that the guide mentioned Stephen Hawking, ‘poor man, who is quite disabled now, though he is a worthy successor to Issac Newton, whose Chair he has at the university.’ And I started, because I had quite forgotten that this most brilliant and completely paralyzed astrophysicist, the author of A Brief History of Time, one of the biggest best-sellers ever, lived here.

 

Word Meanings:

Astrophysicist: A scholar of astrophysics, the branch of physics dealing with stars, planets, and the universe.

Paralyzed: Unable to move or feel part or all of the body.

Differently-abled: A term used to describe individuals with disabilities in a way that emphasizes their abilities rather than limitations.

Best-seller: A book that sells in large quantities, often ranking highly on sales charts.

 

Explanation:

While on a walking tour in Cambridge, the author recalls a guide’s mention of Stephen Hawking. The guide describes Hawking as a “poor man” due to his disabilities, yet highlights his remarkable achievement of succeeding Isaac Newton in the university’s prestigious chair. This prompts the author to realize he had forgotten that Hawking, a brilliant astrophysicist and the author of the renowned best-seller A Brief History of Time, resided in Cambridge. This moment underscores the contrast between Hawking’s physical challenges and his extraordinary intellectual contributions.

PASSAGE

When the walking tour was done, I rushed to a phone booth and, almost tearing the cord so it could reach me outside, phoned Stephen Hawking’s house. There was his assistant on the line and I told him I had come in a wheelchair from India (perhaps he thought I had propelled myself all the way) to write about my travels in Britain. I had to see Professor Hawking — even ten minutes would do. “Half an hour,“ he said. “From three-thirty to four.”

 

Word Meanings:

Propelled: To drive or push something forward; here, it refers to traveling or coming.

Assistant: A person who helps or aids another, often in a professional capacity.

Residence: A place where someone lives; in this context, it refers to Stephen Hawking’s home.

 

Explanation:

After the walking tour, the author rushed to a phone booth, almost tearing the cord to reach it while in his wheelchair. He called Stephen Hawking’s residence and spoke with his assistant, introducing himself as someone who had come all the way from India (which the assistant might have interpreted literally as traveling the distance in a wheelchair) to document his travels in Britain. The author expressed his urgency to meet Professor Hawking, requesting even a brief ten-minute meeting. The assistant, however, offered him a thirty-minute appointment from three-thirty to four the following day, indicating Hawking’s willingness to accommodate him.

PASSAGE

 

And suddenly I felt weak all over. Growing up disabled, you get fed up with people asking you to be brave as if you have a courage account on which you are too lazy to draw a cheque. The only thing that makes you stronger is seeing somebody like you, achieving something huge. Then you know how much is possible and you reach out further than you ever thought you could.

 

Word Meanings:

Weak: Lacking strength or power; feeling faint or vulnerable.

Disabled: Having a physical or mental condition that limits movements, senses, or activities.

Brave: Ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.

Cheque: A written order directing a bank to pay a specified amount of money from one person’s account to another; metaphorically used here to refer to drawing on one’s inner strength.

 

Explanation:

In this moment, the author suddenly feels weak. He reflects on the frustration of being told to be brave while growing up disabled, as if having courage is a simple task. He critiques the notion that those who are differently-abled are merely too lazy to “cash in” on their supposed courage. The real source of strength for individuals in similar situations comes from witnessing others like themselves achieve great things. Such experiences reveal the potential for success and inspire them to push beyond their perceived limits.

PASSAGE

 

 “I haven’t been brave,” said his disembodied computer voice, the next afternoon. “I’ve had no choice.” Surely, I wanted to say, living creatively with the reality of his disintegrating body was a choice? But I kept quiet, because I felt guilty every time I spoke to him, forcing him to respond. There he was, tapping at the little switch in his hand, trying to find the words on his computer with the only bit of movement left to him, his long, pale fingers. Every so often, his eyes would shut in frustrated exhaustion. And sitting opposite him I could feel his anguish, the mind buoyant with thoughts that came out in frozen phrases and sentences stiff as corpses.

 

Word Meanings:

Disembodied: Separated from the body; lacking physical form.

Anguish: Severe mental or physical pain or suffering.

Buoyant: Light, cheerful, and lively; in this context, it refers to the mind being active and vibrant despite physical limitations.

Frustrated: Feeling annoyed or upset due to inability to change or achieve something.

 

Explanation:

The next afternoon, Stephen Hawking communicates through his disembodied computer voice, stating he hasn’t been brave and that he has had no choice. The author feels compelled to argue that living creatively with his disabilities is indeed a brave choice but holds back due to guilt about prompting Hawking to respond. Hawking taps a switch with his long, pale fingers, the only movement left to him, while his eyes occasionally shut in frustrated exhaustion. The author senses Hawking’s anguish as his vibrant thoughts struggle to emerge in frozen phrases, lifeless and stiff, highlighting the contrast between his active mind and unresponsive body.

PASSAGE

 

Passage – “A lot of people seem to think that disabled people are chronically unhappy,” I said. “I know that’s not true myself. Are you often laughing inside?” About three minutes later, he responded, “I find it amusing when people patronize me.” “And do you find it annoying when someone like me comes and disturbs you in your work?” The answer flashed. “Yes.” Then he smiled his oneway smile and I knew, without being sentimental or silly, that I was looking at one of the most beautiful men in the world.

 

Word Meanings:

Chronically: In a persistent and recurring way; lasting for a long time.

Amusing: Causing laughter or providing entertainment; funny.

Patronize: To treat someone with kindness or help but in a way that implies they are inferior.

Sentimental: Prompted by feelings of tenderness or nostalgia; overly emotional or nostalgic.

 

ExplanatioN:

The author challenges the stereotype that disabled people are always unhappy, asserting his belief that this is not true. He asks Hawking if he ever laughs internally, to which Hawking takes about three minutes to respond, revealing he finds it amusing when people patronize him. The author then inquires if he finds it annoying when visitors interrupt his work, to which Hawking candidly answers “yes.” After this exchange, Hawking smiles his unique smile, and the author recognizes the profound beauty of his spirit, acknowledging him as one of the most remarkable individuals he has ever encountered.

PASSAGE

 

A first glimpse of him is shocking because he is like a still photograph — as if all those pictures of him in magazines and newspapers have turned three-dimensional. Then you see the head twisted sideways into a slump, the torso shrunk inside the pale blue shirt, the wasted legs; you look at his eyes which can speak, still, and they are saying something huge and urgent — it is hard to tell what. But you are shaken because you have seen something you never thought could be seen

 

Word Meanings:

Slump: To sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply.

Torso: The upper part of the body, excluding the head and limbs.

Wasted: Weak or emaciated; in this context, it refers to his frail physical condition.

 

ExplanatioN:

The author describes the initial shock of seeing Stephen Hawking, who appears like a still photograph, as if the images from magazines have become three-dimensional yet lifeless. Upon closer observation, one notices his head slumped sideways, the torso diminished within his pale blue shirt, and his legs appearing weak. Despite his physical limitations, his eyes convey a profound urgency, as if they are trying to communicate something significant, though their message remains elusive. This encounter profoundly unsettles the observer, as they witness a reality they never anticipated, evoking a deep emotional response.

PASSAGE

 

Before you, like a lantern whose walls are worn so thin you glimpse only the light inside, is the incandescence of a man. The body, almost irrelevant, exists only like a case made of shadows. So that I, no believer in eternal souls, know that this is what each of us is; everything else an accessory.

 

Word Meanings:

Incandescence: The inner glow or light emitted by an object; in this context, it refers to the profound essence of a person.

Accessory: Something that is not essential but extra or decorative; in this context, it refers to aspects of a person beyond their inner self.

Explanation:

The author compares Stephen Hawking to a lantern with thin walls, allowing only the inner light to be seen. This inner glow represents the essence of the man, suggesting that his physical body is almost irrelevant, merely a shadowy casing. Even as a non-believer in eternal souls, the author recognizes this profound insight—that a person is defined by their inner light, while everything else is merely an accessory, not essential to their true self.

PASSAGE

 

“What do you think is the best thing about being disabled?” I had asked him earlier. “I don’t think there is anything good about being disabled.” “I think,” I said, “you do discover how much kindness there is in the world.” “Yes,” he said; it was a disadvantage of his voice synthesizer that it could convey no inflection, no shades or tone. And I could not tell how enthusiastically he agreed with me.

 

Word Meanings:

Synthesizer: An electronic device that generates sounds by combining signals of different frequencies; in this context, it refers to the device Stephen Hawking uses to communicate.

Inflection: The rise and fall of the voice while speaking; variations in tone that convey emotions or emphasis.

 

Explanation:

The author asks Stephen Hawking what he believes is the best aspect of being disabled, to which Hawking responds that he finds nothing good about it. The author suggests that being disabled allows one to discover the kindness present in the world. Hawking agrees, but the limitations of his voice synthesizer prevent the author from perceiving the enthusiasm behind his agreement, as it lacks inflection, shades, or tones that typically convey emotion. This highlights a poignant aspect of their conversation—while they connect on ideas, the nuances of emotion remain obscured by technology.

PASSAGE

 

Every time I shifted in my chair or turned my wrist to watch the time — I wanted to make every one of our thirty minutes count — I felt a huge relief and exhilaration in the possibilities of my body. How little it mattered then that I would never walk, or even stand.

 

Word Meanings:

Exhilaration: A feeling of happiness, excitement, or elation; a state of being cheerful or invigorated.

 

Explanation:

The author reflects on how, during his thirty-minute meeting with Stephen Hawking, every slight movement—shifting in his chair or glancing at his wristwatch—brought him a sense of relief and exhilaration. He was determined to make the most of their time together. In that moment, the limitations of his body, including the reality that he would never walk or stand, seemed insignificant. Instead, he focused on the possibilities and experiences available to him, emphasizing a sense of joy and appreciation for the present moment.

PASSAGE

 

I told him how he had been an inspiration beyond cliche´ for me, and, surely, for others — did that thought help him? “No,” he said; and I thought how foolish I was to ask. When your body is a claustrophobic room and the walls are growing narrower day by day, it doesn’t do much good to know that there are people outside smiling with admiration to see you breathing still.

 

Word Meanings:

Cliché: A phrase or idea that has been used so often that it has lost its original meaning or impact.

Claustrophobic: Relating to an environment that feels very small and suffocating; in this context, it describes the oppressive feeling of being trapped in one’s own body.

 

Explanation:

The author shares with Stephen Hawking how he has been an immense inspiration, not just to him but to many others, and asks if that thought provides him with any comfort. Hawking’s straightforward response, “No,” makes the author feel foolish for posing the question. Hawking explains that when one’s body feels like a claustrophobic room, with the walls closing in more each day, the admiration from others for simply surviving doesn’t provide much solace. This underscores the profound isolation and struggle he faces, highlighting the disconnect between external admiration and internal reality.

PASSAGE

 

“Is there any advice you can give disabled people, something that might help make life better?” “They should concentrate on what they are good at; I think things like the disabled Olympics are a waste of time.” “I know what you mean.” I remembered the years I’d spent trying to play a Spanish guitar considerably larger than I was; and how gleefully I had unstringed it one night. The half-hour was up. “I think I’ve annoyed you enough,” I said, grinning. “Thank you for…” “Stay.” I waited. “Have some tea. I can show you the garden.” The garden was as big as a park, but Stephen Hawking covered every inch, rumbling along in his motorized wheelchair while I dodged to keep out of the way. We couldn’t talk very much; the sun made him silent, the letters on his screen disappearing in the glare.

 

Word Meanings:

Gleefully: In a very happy or joyful manner.

Rumbling: A continuous deep, resonant sound; in this context, likely referring to the sound of the motorized wheelchair.

 

Explanation:

The author asks Stephen Hawking for advice that could help disabled individuals improve their lives. Hawking advises them to focus on their strengths and suggests that events like the Disabled Olympics are unproductive. The author resonates with this perspective, recalling his own experience trying to play an oversized Spanish guitar, which he ultimately gleefully unstrung. As their half-hour meeting ends, the author playfully remarks that he might have annoyed Hawking, but instead, Hawking invites him to stay for tea and to see his garden. Although the garden is expansive, Hawking navigates it in his motorized wheelchair, with the author trying to stay out of his way. Their conversation is limited due to the sun’s glare, which obscures the letters on Hawking’s screen, illustrating the challenges they face in communication amidst the beauty of the moment.

PASSAGE

 

An hour later, we were ready to leave. I didn’t know what to do. I could not kiss him or cry. I touched his shoulder and wheeled out into the summer evening. I looked back; and I knew he was waving, though he wasn’t. Watching him, an embodiment of my bravest self, the one I was moving towards, the one I had believed in for so many years, alone, I knew that my journey was over for now.

 

Explanation:

After an hour, it was time for the author to leave, but he felt uncertain about how to express his emotions. Unable to kiss or cry, he simply touched Stephen’s shoulder before wheeling out into the summer evening. As he looked back, he sensed Stephen was waving goodbye, even though he wasn’t. This moment symbolized for the author an embodiment of his own bravery—the version of himself he aspired to be and had believed in for years. He realized that, for now, his journey in England had come to an end.