Part 5/9:
A Life of Struggle: The Burden of Expectations
William's retreat from society, however, did not shield him from his parents’ overwhelming expectations. His mother, particularly, was a dominant force in his life, stifling his attempts to carve a personal identity separate from that of “the child prodigy.” He turned to menial jobs in order to escape the burdens of his genius, earning a meager wage while hiding his identity from co-workers who could have placed him on a pedestal.