Cohen, an MIT instructor, is a “self-obsessed, suspicious, aggressive, and charming” mathematician who often engages Nash in competitions. Nash views himself as a mentor to Cohen, though he also drops hints about his attraction to Cohen. Later, some of Nash’s colleagues blame Nash’s mental breakdown on the “disappointed love” and “intense rivalry” between Nash and Cohen.
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Paul Cohen Character Timeline in A Beautiful Mind
The timeline below shows where the character Paul Cohen appears in A Beautiful Mind. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 33 – Schemes
In summer 1958, another brilliant young mathematician comes to MIT: Paul Cohen , who would later win both a Fields and a Bocher. Cohen is “self-obsessed, suspicious,...
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Chapter 36 – Day Breaks in Bowditch Hall
...day that Nash is hospitalized for the first time, he goes on a walk with Paul Cohen , who is disturbed by Nash’s rambling speech and paranoia. Nash is hospitalized involuntarily, as...
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