Analysis of Forrest Gump

Cedric Washington 11 October 2013 Analysis Paper English 1100                                                          Analysis of Forrest Gump             How do you define living a good life? Is a good life working hard and becoming successful? Is it enjoying every day and living as if it’s your last? Obviously this question isn’t an easy one. It isn’t something a person is going to grasp immediately. It is something so few of us even dare to find out. A lot of people in the world just do what there told or do what everyone else is doing. It is almost as if we take this precious time that we are given for granted. Some people do this because they are afraid that the struggle to do what they what in life might be too difficult. It wasn’t until I saw the Forrest Gump movie that I had reached the conclusion that the impossible is only impossible when a possible opportunity is not taken. The Forrest Gump film is the best interpretation of a man overcoming great struggle such as his mental retardation, crooked back, and growing up without a father.               In the Forrest Gump film one of the many struggles the main character Forrest Gump has is that he is hindered by his Mental Retardation. When he was just a young boy Forrest was told that his IQ score was just too low to go to school with the other children and that he would need to attend a special needs school. Even though Forrest was mentally challenged he still attended the school for children without disabilities and was able make it through elementary school, middle school, and even graduate high school. He and his mother did not let a principle dictate his life because of his disability. Using this attitude Forrest Gump went on to college at the University of Alabama. He was able to graduate from one of the best collegiate schools in just 5 years with a degree. This is something that most people would deem as impossible for a mentally handicapped person to accomplish. The movie also shows the main character becoming a business owner of a shrimping boat company. Although he was mentally handicapped, knew nothing about fishing, and was told by his former Lieutenant, Dan Taylor, that he could never be a captain of any boat; Forrest Gump still pursued his aspiration. In doing so he was rewarded by becoming extremely successful after a hurricane had whipped out all of the other boats in the docks except Forrest’s. With the help of former skeptic Dan Taylor the name Bubba Gump shrimp (the name of Forrest’s shrimping boat company) was able to become a household name. This of course made Forrest Gump a millionaire and with some proper investments in a rising company called Apple he was able to become a billionaire. This is a milestone his principle couldn’t have even conceptualized that the young disabled Forrest was capable of doing. Forrest Gump conquered this struggle along with others, such as the infliction his crooked back had on him.               Young Forrest was unfortunately diagnosed with a spinal disorder. For the early years of his life he had to wear braces on his legs in order to walk. He had no idea if the braces were ever going to come off. These braces made him a target for bullies and in one part one the movie Forrest is chased by bullies on their bikes. Now with these braces on his legs he was already at a disadvantage and with their being three boys with bikes, it seemed all but possible. Forrest started to run anyway and with the three boys gaining on him something amazing happened. Just as he is running the braces bring to brake off of his legs and Forrest is able to run without the help of the braces. He is actually able to run away from the boys and return home running the entire way unscathed. Although he was able to evade the bullies this time he was still a target for them. As seen when Forrest is in high school and the bullies show up again this time with a truck. Immediately Forrest starts to run as the odds are stacked up against him again. Forrest runs so rapidly he sprints through a high school football practice that has taken place and leaves the Alabama University football recruiters astonished at his speed. Forrest Gump was awarded a full scholarship at a division 1 football program. At the university he was a kickoff returner and a spectacular one at that. He was such an exceptional football player he was awarded the title of kick returner on the All American football team. After college Forrest Gump enlisted in the army. Forrest Gump then proved again that he could do great acts despite being diagnosed with his back disorder during the Vietnam War. After an ambush by the Viet Cong Forrest Gump used his great speed to arrive to safety but is concerned about his friend Bubba (a fellow U.S soldier) so he runs back into the lines of fire. On his way back he comes across three other soldiers including Lieutenant Dan Taylor who he over hears calling an air strike on the boundary. Forrest Gump picks up each of the soldiers, places them on his back and takes them to safety one by one. Still in search for his friend Bubba he runs back into the location of the imminent air strike and finds Bubba and brings him back to safety right before the area is in gulfed in flames. In that duration of the movie Forrest Gump was able to rescue five soldiers from what seemed to be assured death. Forrest Gump was able to use his legs to be extraordinary in many aspects including running border to border across the nation. This profound run shocked most of the nation almost everyone, aspect his mother.               Forrest’s mother always believed he would accomplish great things, even when others couldn’t possibly see it she did. Which is another obstacle Forrest had to face, it was that he only had his mother. With his father out of the picture Forrest was faced with the responsibility of being the man around the house. He had to help around the house as a youth and take care of guest, which were frequent in the house because it was run as a bed and breakfast. When Forrest became a young man and acquired some money he had to also become a provider for his mother. Forrest even provided for his late friend Bubba’s mother because Bubba had died in the war. Forrest selflessly provided her and her children with enough money that she would not have to work a day in her life. Forrest Gump also became a man who knew how to treat a woman without the guidance of a father, such as protecting his longtime friend and love his life Jenny from aggressive men attempting to hurt her. He also learned important social lessons through one part. One of these social lessons was when Forrest Gump picked up a book that Vivian Malone, an African American woman trying to integrate the University of Alabama, had dropped and gave it to her. This was a small act but showed social acceptance on Forrest’s part. He also learned how to become a father without knowledge of knowing how a father is to act. When told of the new by the love of his life Jenny that he has a son who is just a young child. She gives him the choice to leave by saying “You don’t have to take care of him I’m not asking for anything”, but Forrest stays to take care of his son. Not soon after Jenny passes away leaving Forrest a single parent, but he decides, like his mother did him, he will raise his son to become a man by himself.               The Forrest Gump movie shows many aspects of life that we all face. The movie was able to tell the story of how a mentally handicap child with a crooked back and a fatherless home became an high school graduate, college graduate, All American athlete, a war hero, national inspiring runner, and a great father. What makes this movie so great is that the story shows how all the odds are stacked against the main character and yet somehow he is able to accomplish great things. The movie is the greatest example of persistence through hardship and living every day to its capacity. The movie not only makes the audience want to do more in life, but it also shows them that anything is possible. This is why Forrest Gump separates its self when it comes to defying the odds type movies because the movie makes the audience believe it’s real and makes them want to apply this style of living to their own life. Forrest Gump. Paramount Pictures. Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise. 6 July, 1994, DVD