American Conception Of Fierce Family Love In Forrest Gump

The United States of America has always been known for its rich history in regard to how it was built to be one of the world’s current superpowers. Forrest Gump (1994), an American classic, embodies the culture of twentieth-century America from the post-World War II period to the Post-Watergate era. The movie communicates the story of America through simple, but powerful storytelling and allegorical characters to make sense out of what was a deeply dramatic era for most Americans. Tom Hanks plays Forrest Gump, an innocent simpleton who deals with the chance elements of life that carries him like the feather blowing through the wind in the opening and ending scenes of the movie. Forrest’s story is directly intertwined with major historical events in the twentieth-century America. The film rewrites history based on the fact that the characters are the secret catalysts of the historical events that define our collective memory. The people that Forrest befriends throughout his journey of life all portray a certain aspect of the American lifestyle.

Forrest Gump’s story is America’s story. The movie depicts America’s historical events in chronological order through its rich symbolism of the main character Forrest Gump, who was born with a low IQ of seventy-five and a back as “crooked as a politician”. The movie explained how Forrest got his name from Nathan Bedford Forrest, the leader of the white supremacist and terrorist organization: Klu Klux Klan. Forrest’s low IQ, crooked back, and connection to Nathan Bedford Forrest correlates to the American ideal of rebuilding no matter the previous circumstances. America was based off of it’s shameful past of white supremacy and was in need of a rebuild after the Civil War. Forrest’s childhood was generally peaceful and joyous just like the decade was a prosperous one for many Americans. Forrest was enjoying life by spending most of his time with his new friend Jenny (Young Jenny played by Hanna Hall), meanwhile, 1950’s America was experiencing low unemployment, cheap housing, and the arrival of jazz and cinema. Forrest later develops on his habit of running in a scene where a group of local bullies chase after him in their car that contains the confederate flag as the front license plate. Forrest is metaphorically trying to outrun the evils and pains of America. Forest accidentally runs through a football field where he is instantly recognized by the coaches. He attended the University of Alabama on a football scholarship. During his first football game, he was seen daydreaming as the other player gave him the ball and told him to run. Forest’s confusion as he ran down the field reflected the 1960’s tumultuous conflicts regarding civil rights. That was a very complicated time for Americans where they were forced to battle out the rights between races. Following college, Forrest enlisted in the army. He was able to personally feel the defining American tragedy of this era when he watched his “best good friend” Bubba die, along with others in the long and costly Vietnam War that he took part in. In the post-Vietnam war era, Forrest helps the United States open up relations with Communist China by playing Ping Pong. “We were the first Americans to visit the land of China in a million years…Somebody said world peace was in our hands, but all I did was play ping pong.” Forrest unwittingly provides a gateway to China through his exceptional Ping Pong skills. Ping Pong Diplomacy was an event in American history when China invited members of the United States Ping Pong team. These were among of the first group of Americans to arrive in China since 1949. After being discharged from the army, Forrest lives the life of an ideal American entrepreneur by transforming his late friend Bubba’s dream of owning a shrimping business into reality nearly overnight. He was able to live that American ideal of getting rich in a short span of time through simple perseverance.

The symbolic journey of Forrest running across America was triggered after his lifelong partner Jenny left him. This personal heartbreak correlated to America’s need to heal and process the ruckus of the 1960’s that consisted of the Civil Rights movement. His love for running captures the American all-or-nothing attitude. If Americans are going to do something, why walk when they can run. This ties into the ideal of keep going no matter how tough it gets. “Mama always said you got to put the past behind you before you can move on. And I think that’s what my running was all about.” Forrest was born into a life with disadvantages. A Low IQ, crooked spine, and absent father wasn’t enough to stop Forrest from going through life. By definition, the word gump means “a foolish or dull-witted person.” Although the nature of society was against Forrest, he still manages to achieve the luxuries of the classic American dream. He served his country, became a successful capitalist, met presidents of the United States, and started a family with the woman he always loved.

It may seem that he got to achieve his accomplishments due to pure luck, Forrest does indeed possess qualities that reflect our national character as a whole. One of Forrest’s greatest gifts consists of his single-minded focus and consistent focus of the task at hand. Throughout the movie, we have noticed several examples where Forrest was given a simple task to do like keep his eye on the ping pong ball, reassemble a gun, and run across a football field. He managed to excel in all of these tasks. It’s as if there is no extra clutter in his head distracting him. This aspect of Forrest’s laser focus translates into when the United States channels its energy into achieving a very precise objective such as landing on the moon. This expands on his superpower of optimism that guides the movie. The implied message is that twentieth-century America’s journey is about triumphing through evil even when it seems impossible. Jenny first gives the Forrest the advice to run, however his urge to run is ultimately an interest in running itself. “I ran to get where I was going. I never thought it would take me anywhere.” Forrest comes to a realization to that of what a famous essayist by the name of Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Forrest embodies the central spirit of America through his ideal perspective of society.

The backbone of Forrest himself throughout the movie was his mother, who he referred to as “mama.” She represents the American conception of fierce family love and the power of a homegrown folk wisdom life.