Though Will Hunting (Matt Damon) has a genius level-intelligence (such as solving sophisticated mathematical problems), works as a janitor at a prestigious college in Boston and lives alone in a few apartment in South Boston.
Even though Will is one of a kind genius, he is an abused foster child resulting for him to destruct his own professional and emotional life. Will solved the problem of Professor Gerald Lambeau, a Field Medalist, left on a challenge to his students in the chalkboard, hoping if someone can solve the problem by the end of the semester.Everyone wonders who solved the problem. So, Professor Gerald posts another problem that he and his colleagues took two years for them to solve.
Will was caught on the act of solving the problem by Professor Gerald. The professor taught that Will is just vandalizing and it turns out that Will solved the problem correctly. So, the professor chase Will believing that he might have a great potential in the field of mathematics. Mean while, Will faces imprisonment after attacking the one who bullied him when he was in kindergarten.Professor Gerald goes to Will’s trial offering him a choice. Its either he will be on jail or he will go to Professor Gerald’s personal supervision where he must see a psychotherapist and study mathematics.
He agrees though he believes that he doesn’t need the therapy. Five psychologists fail to connect with Will. Professor Gerald finally calls on psychologist Sean, his old friend and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) classmate. Sean is different from the five psychologies, because he is the only one that survived and pursues Will to help.He is being challenged by Will when Will analyzes the watercolor painting that Sean had done himself and concludes that it reflects Sean’s suppressed feeling about the premature death of his wife. After a long struggle and sessions Will finally decided to take away the inner demon and take charge of his own life.
He discovers who he is and recognizes his importance in the world by understanding what matters to him most. Will is a part of individual who is unaware of social pressure. His values and characters differ from the traditional society.Chuck, whom he trusted ost, makes him feel invincible. He makes no sense of his being genius in mathematics. He is very impulsive and defensive about his feelings.
Because of his childhood experiences, he becomes introvert and guard of his own feeling. Therefore, he also has the same qualities throughout his therapies. Instead of reveling what disturbs him, he often has a wise question that disrupts Sean and the whole session. Will masters mathematics.
However, it upset Professor Gerald to his difference towards it. He is shocked to know that Will doesn’t make any sense of his extraordinary gift.The relationship of Will with Skylar gets sour when he refuses to go away with her. He fears of the social difference, she might leave him. He thinks that one day she will get tired of their relationship and eventually leave him alone.
He is caught by his temporary madness and before hurt by her; He prefers to end up the relationship instead by her. He doesn’t want to show his weak side. During one of the last sessions, Sean questions Will about what he would like to do in life. Why he would rather be a janitor in one of the most famous universities?Will escape the question. He doesn’t want to face the facts of life.
He prefers to keep a low profile and dodge being hurt rather than anything else. Have the minimum possible contact with other people and keep his emotions under constant guard. The last session breaks through Will’s emotional barrier. Sean succeeds in letting him see that his father’s violence was not Will’s fault. He is not guilty and doesn’t have to punish himself.
He can’t keep denying himself the right to be happy thinking that everything is his own fault.Sean succeeds in what he had set out to achieve. Chuck shows will the way when he understands that Will is anxious about Skylar’s departure. In his own way, his own words, he tells Will what he must to so that Chuck can feel the same about him.
He explains to Will that he, Chuck, is well suited for a laborer’s job. Twenty years down the road he would still be there. If Will were to stay however, that would be tremendously wrong. That would be denying his capabilities and his right to happiness. Will makes up his mind.
He escapes the social constraints, refuses a job and goes in search of the one thing that mattered: to be with someone he loved and who loved him back. He has learnt to let go of the past and his inhibitions about the society. He is determined and willing to take a chance, at the risk of being hurt. He informs his therapist about his intentions and his determination to be happy.
When Chuck finds him gone, he realizes what had happened. With admiration and sadness, he understands and supports Will’s way out. Will have now taken path that will help him live, breathe and be free.
