Analysis of Forrest Gump - Essay Example

?Analysis of Forrest Gump Movies can be used to reflect on history just as other form of literature. America is generally accredited with high volumeof movie production. Mostly, these movies are based on Hollywood and have received international recognition. Movies generally depict social issues in the society. Movies are produced for commercial purpose based on particular issue in any country or the world. Actually, in America, groups of movies have been based on particular books and this gives the viewer a chance to interact with particular author. The rate at which movies are produced all over the world improved significantly in the 20th century. This took place due to various technological advancement that enabled a number of movies to be produced easily and more efficiently. Additionally, 20th century can be referred as a period of several issues in the world. There were issues of war, such as first and Second World War, cold war and several countries were in conflict during this period. This provided an opportunity for a number of movies to be cast based on a number of themes that were overriding in the 20th century. Consequently, Forrest Gump is not an exception as it had a reflection on American war with Vietnam in that took place in the last decades of 20th century. This paper seeks to focus on analysis of Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump was one of its own in the last decades of 20th century. This movie was cast in the last decade of 20th century specifically 1994. It has dramatic episode that make it thrilling to the audience. Its plot is based on a novel authored in 1986 synonymous to film title Forrest Gump. The film reinforces events that took part in the last half of the 20th century. The first incidence of this film took place in some states of United States such as Georgia, North, and South Carolina in late 1993. Several copies were sold worldwide upon its release on July 6, 1994. Several awards have been won due to its impact and warm reception in the society. The director of this movie was Robert Zemeckis and the movie was released in 1994 and gained international recognition. Forrest is telling his story to a stranger who was seated in the same place he was sitting. This movie talks of a man who was born with low capacity brain but successful in his lifetime achievements. His leg had a medical problem and he hated wearing leg braces. However, this did not deter him and he joins a football team at his school. Moreover, he joins the army and is part of Vietnamese war. In the war, he gets comrades such as Benjamin Buford “Bubba” (Mykelti Williamson) who always dreamt of owning a shrimping boat. Their combatant team was attacked and Bubba died in the attack while their commander (Lt.Dan Taylor) was severely injured and became incapacitated, as both legs were lost. Though forest was injured in the incident, it was not as severe as the others were. He gained recognition from President John F. Kennedy. While recovering from the minor injury he develops interest on ping-pong. He is also part of United States army team, this grant him a chance to meet President Nixon and a room was secured for him in the hotel. This gave him a chance to expose the Watergate scandal. Later he meets Lieutenant Dan who used to be his commander in Vietnam and he shares a thought with him about the intention of the shrimping business (Wineburg, et al 2007). Lt.Dan was skeptical about the idea but agreed to join Forrest as soon the business boomed. Forrest used money from the ping-pong to buy a shrimmping boat. The lieutenant also joined him. They become successful as soon as the disaster affected their challenger. Their company did well in future. Later he takes care of his mother while lieutenant took care of their business that became a huge empire. Jenny later visited him. He proposed to her and on refusal, he packed and left the house. However, jenny still went to his room where they consummated but she left the next day with a cab. Forrest then engages in a running spree for three years and had a considerable following. On return to his hometown, he finds a letter from jenny. This letter was the reason for him to seat and wait for the bus to take him to her place. The aged woman listening to his story informed him that jenny place was in vicinity. He rushed to her place. After being back together, he is informed of his son who was also named Forest. He also came to learn that jenny was sick but the cause was unknown. He proposes again and this time she agreed to be his companion. They return to his home area but soon she dies. After taking Forrest his son to school, he sat on the same location they were with his mother during his fist day to school (Groom, 2012). One of the central characters in this movie is Forrest. His background is poor in terms of health and level of knowledge. Alabama is a state usually characterized with poor condition and people. Forrest undergoes through various struggles in his childhood days. He is a victim of various form of discrimination due to his mental capability. This is generally obvious in the school system. His mother tries to dispute of his mental state. Moral decadence is seen when the principal advance Forrest’s mother for sexual favor to enroll forest to the county school. Everyone in his neighborhood is always contempt of his nature. His participation in George Wallace protest against desegregation reinforces the major theme of racial injustices that took place in the better part of 20th century. It also demonstrates the struggles of those who went through such forms of discrimination (Wineburg, et al 2007). Additionally, major events that affected America are highlighted such as Watergate scandal, Vietnam War among others. His mental attitude denied him a chance to analyze these events and he appears to be unaware of their implication. He is also oblivious of the America agenda in pursuing Vietnamese and all what appears important to him is the medal from the president. He tells Drills that his purpose in the war is only to follow his orders. Forrest is completely unaware of the anti-war movements in United States. Additionally, Forrest is a hero in terms of football, war, and business and the theme of optimism is highlighted (Wineburg, et al 2007). Forrest went through various challenges and this depicts how he triumphs over various difficulties in life. Others like lieutenant are pessimistic about future but Forrest dreams become true. Consequently, when he became successful lieutenant decides to join him and they become successful and renowned people. Between 11960 and 1970, America focus was on Vietnam. This war led to government policy being focused on Vietnam. This war generated debate among America people and the world. Forrest reinforces this issue during his stint in Vietnam as he retells the story. Vietnam War was based on America deception that it was forestalling democracy. However, a critical analysis shows the war was aimed at protecting capitalism (Wineburg, et al 2007). Theme of honesty is depicted in the movie. Forrest was honest to all people he promised to work with. He supports Bubba family even after his death as he had promised earlier. Moreover, Forrest went through various challenges in his life. However, he uses the analogy of the chocolates to show people that one needs not to worry because no one knows what life holds in future (Marcus, 2010). Jenny Curran accentuates the theme of moral decadence. Firstly, in her childhood days, her own biological father abused her and this might have influenced her values later in life. She tries all sorts of social ills such as drug, prostitution, and even attempting to take her own life. Later in life, she appears to have undergone a major transformation (Mellencamp, 1995). Symbolism is highly employed in the story. Feather appears in the beginning and at the end of the story. Mostly a feather is light in nature. Mostly a feather is blown by wind and taken to any direction the wind is going. A feather has no ultimate destination nor can a feather determine where it wants to be with its innate capability and therefore, wind determines the fate of the feather. Consequently, feather is significantly used to depict Forrest and Jenny’s lives. Whoever, saw these two fellows at their earlier age could have predicted that their life was doomed. They went through various challenges. Forrest had challenges and difficulties in his upbringing. Likewise, Jenny went through similar challenges at her tender age. However, what their neighborhood predicted and thought of them never happened. Forrest life took a dramatic twist when he enrolls in army, get a chance to meet the president and above all he became successful in his career and business. His deeds and practices in life landed him to fortune and success. The feather reflects the dreams of Forrest friend and Jenny’s of going far away from father abuse (Wineburg, et al 2007). Politically, the film reflects on political ideas in the 20th century. Firstly, Forrest’s life was a reflection of political ideas of the society. In America, 20th century was a period of change from populist to progressive ideas. Progressive aimed at buying ideas from the intellect and using professionals from schools in running the government affairs. Forrest having low intelligence capacity was viewed as somebody who could not offer support to the growing mentality that only the bright and sharp people could help America progress (Zinsser, 1995). This might be the reason why Forrest initially was denied a place in school. Secondly, Forrest perception about life was conservative in nature while Jenny embraced progressive ideas. Historically in America, each political party is characterized by certain idea and values different from the other party. This is usually the perception of the democrat and the republican. American citizen support a party based on which party is in line with their idea and this sometimes leads to serious division between American citizens (Zinsser, 1995). The eventual intermarriage between Jenny and Forrest shows that in spite of political differences people can still exist together in society with no cause for alarm. Moreover, Jenny’s Death is a true reflection of America in the last half of 20th century. This period saw implementation of various government policies that democratized institution. This period also saw decline in civil right movements as government recognized freedom and equality for all. All people were again treated equal and the blacks gained constitutional recognition. Therefore, Jenny’s death characterizes the end of agitation for equal rights and achievements of black’s dreams equality for all. Of more significance is the death of Jenny. On the movie, it is claimed that she died due to an unknown virus, which appears to have no cure. The virus might have been HIV. This is a true reflection of America society at the period. The excesses of American people usually led them into trouble. Most people at this time especially in poor neighborhoods underwent various forms of social ills, which led them to be negatively impacted on by their behavior. HIV is one of consequences and affects not just America but whole world especially in poor countries (Wineburg, et al 2007; Wang, 2000). In conclusion, America films for a long time have been cast based on the society and world. This usually took place in the 20th century when America underwent through various transformations. America at this period was embroiled in war and other form of injustices that it had to solve. Moreover, the issue of cold war threatened America existence together with its dreams. For this reason, America had to intervene in Vietnamese war to forestall its pride and glory. Forrest Grunt film is a true reflection of America and its people in various crisis of the 20th century. Additionally, this movie brings special focus to one of the biggest scandal to have ever hit America. At this period, the administration was faced by various challenges among them being accountability. Therefore, a finer analysis of Forrest Grump film can give us the history of America in 20th century. References Groom, W. (2012). Forrest Gump. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Marcus, A. (2010).Teaching History With Film: Strategies for Secondary Social Studies. London: Taylor & Francis. Mellencamp, P. (1995).A Fine Romance--: Five Ages of Film Feminism. New York: Temple University Press. The Phi Delta Kappan , Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 168-177 Wang, J. (2000). “A Struggle of Contending Stories": Race, Gender, and Political Memory in "Forrest Gump.” Cinema Journal, Vol. 39(3), pp. 92-115 Wineburg, S et al. (2007). Forrest Gump, and the Future of Teaching the Past Zinsser, J. (1995). Real History, Real Education, Real Merit -- or Why Is "Forrest Gump" So Popular? Journal of Social History , Vol. 29, Special Issue: Social History and the American Political Climate: Problems and Strategies (1995), pp. 91-97. Read More