Breakdown:

1. Introduction:
   • Introduce Prince as a legendary artist whose brilliance was shaped by deep emotional wounds.
   • Briefly state the core thesis: Prince’s rejection by both parents at a young age set him on a lifelong mission to prove his worth.
2. The Original Wound – Rejection at 13:
   • Describe Prince’s childhood struggles:
     • Parents’ divorce and his troubled relationship with his stepfather.
     • Moving in with his father, Big John, only to be rejected again.
     • At 13, Prince had been abandoned by both parents, which instilled a deep sense of inadequacy.
   • Link this to his resolve to become “special” and never feel powerless again. Being cast out of both his parents’ homes by the age of 13 left him feeling unwanted and unvalued. This profound hurt became the catalyst for his unrelenting drive. Prince decided he would show the world—his parents, especially—how exceptional he was.
   • To him, being “special” meant rising so far above the ordinary that no one could ignore or dismiss him. Music became his vehicle for this transformation. It was not merely a creative outlet but his salvation and his armor. By dedicating himself entirely to mastering his craft, he could control his destiny and demand the recognition and admiration he had been denied as a child.
   • This resolve powered his meteoric rise, as he sought not just to be a musician but a superstar. Prince’s extraordinary talent, combined with his obsession with proving his worth, made him an unstoppable force, but it also set the stage for the struggles he faced later in life.
3. The Mission Begins – Music as Salvation:
   • Explore Prince’s teenage years:
     • Immersing himself completely in music to escape his pain.
     • His obsessive dedication to mastering instruments, songwriting, and performing.
   • Highlight how this drive propelled him to the top of the music world by his 20s.
4. Music as a Means of Connection:
   • Prince’s unparalleled ability to communicate through music, contrasted with his difficulty in forming personal relationships.
   • His reliance on music as his primary form of self-expression and emotional connection.
5. The Cost of Single-Minded Focus:
   • Discuss the social and emotional consequences of his intense focus on music:
     • Struggles in personal relationships, including two failed marriages and the tragic loss of his children.
     • A growing realization of his emotional isolation.
6. The Physical Toll and Dependency:
   • Detail how his relentless work ethic took a physical toll on his body by his 40s:
     • Chronic pain in his hip, back, and knee, making touring and recording increasingly difficult.
   • Explain how painkillers entered his life:
     • A man who avoided drugs his whole life became dependent as a means to keep working.
     • Lack of experience and support system exacerbated his addiction.
7. The Spiral and Tragic End:
   • Describe how his isolation and addiction ultimately led to his untimely death.
   • Reflect on how his lifelong need to prove himself became both his greatest strength and his ultimate undoing.
8. Conclusion – The Duality of Genius and Pain:
   • Summarize Prince’s journey as a testament to the power of human resilience and creativity, but also a cautionary tale about the cost of unresolved emotional wounds.
   • Reflect on his legacy as a complex, driven, and extraordinary figure whose music continues to connect with millions.