There is no doubt that Albert Einstein was one of the most important geniuses of humanity, marking a before and after in the history of science with his Theory of Relativity. But we must not forget that, although he stood out among others with his abilities in physics, he was also a common man of the time.
And that was evident after his first marriage, of which he was divorced in 1916 after 15 years married to Mileva Marićwhich also inspired by physics and mathematics, helped him in many of his pioneering studies for which he received recognition.
According to BBC News, both They met at the Zurich Polytechnic Institute, which at the time was one of the few universities in Europe that allowed women to enter.. There, they hit it off by sharing their love of science.
The media points out that, during their first years together, they collaborated on different studies, but Marić did not receive credits and after becoming pregnant in 1900, without being married, the couple officially united. in marriage.
It was from there that Mileva began to distance herself from science, dedicating her life to parentingwhile Einstein forged a brilliant career for which he would be recognized worldwide, and later, winner of the Nobel Prize.
A distorted Albert Einstein
According to El Mundo, The problems would have started when the couple already had two children and Einstein boasted his first doctorate.while Mileva fulfilled the duties of mother and wife.
There are many versions of Albert Einstein. For example, he has been depicted in movies, books, and popular culture, where He is personified as a misunderstood genius, something “crazy”, wasting wisdom and knowledge.
In parallel, different historians have compiled parts of his life that have formed a more sensible image of him, a genius, but at the same time any man of the timewith customs and thoughts that, today, for many would be “retrograde.”
It is rumored that he was a bad father and at the same time it is contradicted by letters where he expressed his affection for his children to his friends; while in darker corners it is believed that he had “inappropriate” feelings for a stepdaughter from her second marriage, that he was unfaithful and that he was troubled by not being able to settle down with just one woman.
But among countless records, theories and assumptions about his private life, beyond his scientific contribution, what can be said to be real is that His breakup with Mileva Marić was not on good terms..
Einstein’s “infamous” letter to Mileva Maric
This year the second edition in Spanish of the biography of Mileva Marić written by the Croatian journalist Slavenka Drakulic´ years ago, titled Mileva Einstein, theory of sadnesswhere some details of the end of their marriage are revealed.
This biography, in novel format, begins precisely when, in the midst of the marital crisis, Einstein sends Mileva a letter asking her for a series of conditions to continue together..
“With his palm he smoothes out some handwritten sheets of paper. He knows they are from Albert, but he rereads them and examines the signature, as if he didn’t believe he was capable of writing something like that…“, says Drakulic´ in the book.
The letter made requests such as keeping it clean and how not to bother or address him. The journalist classified this writing as “infamous” and theorized that Marić knew that her husband no longer loved her.but he tried to get her to be the one to take the initiative to end the marriage.
“TO. You are going to deal with:
1. That my suits, underwear and sheets are clean.
2. That I receive three meals a day in my room.
3. That my bedroom and study are clean and, especially, that my desk is used only by me.b. You will abstain from any relationship with me, unless necessary for social reasons. In particular, you will give up:
1. That I spend time with you at home.
2. Traveling together.C. When dealing with me, you will abide by these rules:
1. You will not expect any affection from me nor will you reproach me in any way.
2. If I demand it, you will stop addressing me.
3. If I demand it, you will leave my bedroom or study immediately and without protest.
4. You will not make me less in front of our children, whether with your words or your behavior.”
According to The New York Times, This letter, which should still exist to this day, was auctioned in 2006 in New York along with 400 others that the scientist once shared with those close to him, valued at 2 million dollars.
The letters had been kept on file until then and did not reveal many new details about Albert Einstein, but they did reveal some about how he fell in love with Mileva Marić, the contributions she made to his scientific theory and the subsequent “disenchantment”.
The BBC reports that, When they divorced, they agreed that if they won the Nobel, the prize money would go to her.. Although when he obtained it in 1921 he was already married to his second wife, he kept his promise and left the monetary part of the award to his ex-wife, who spent it on her children.
After their separation, Mileva had financial problems and spent the rest of her life caring for her son Eduard Einstein.who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1930.
