Introduction
The drama called Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on the novel by Winston Groom, has taken the world’s attention since its release. It is loved and quoted by audiences, critics, and filmmakers. The film covers the topic of the sense of living and the art of being true to yourself. All the characters around the main character gradually change. Forrest remains himself despite the life that constantly draws him into the maelstrom of events.
From the very beginning, he understood the elementary truth of happiness and the meaning of life in love. The efforts of the characters to build relationships helped them to find the compromise and the touching point in their communication. Throughout the visual narration of the film, Forrest communicates with various characters. The main character’s relationships with his beloved woman will be analyzed using two communicational theories: attraction theory and relational dialectics.
Attraction Theory
Attraction theory states that love and liking for other people are associated with rewarding experiences. In other words, people like others when the actions of a potential beloved can be psychologically related to some reinforcement (“Attraction Theories”). This principle can be seen in the relationships maintained between Forrest and Jenny, his wife. The primary factor why Forrest is so emotionally attached to Jenny is his experience of being praised by her. She accepted him from the very start of his journey. Jenny supported him starting from childhood. One of the first scenes shows how Jenny emotionally supports Forrest by providing a motivating phrase. As a result, Forrest likes Kenny because she is associated with reinforcement and the positive experience of being accepted.
Similarly, Jenny sees Forrest as the only person who can truly accept her identity. His ultimate love for her is a gesture of praise for Jenny, which forces her to return to Forrest in moments of despair. Being the victim of her exaggerated expectations for living, she constantly refuses the simple life values of Forrest. However, even being compelled, the attraction to him appears as far as he is the only one capable of praising her. The theory best explains the way relationships develop because it reflects the characters’ psychology explaining the emotional aspect of their actions.
Relational Dialectics
The relationships between Forrest and Jenny can be considered from another perspective: applying the theory of relational dialects. It states that people starting any relationship coming from different backgrounds face various contradictions and tensions (“Relational Dialectics Theory”). Sustainable relationships are formed when the polarities are turned into praxis (“Relational Dialectics Theory”).
The dichotomy of the main characters is reflected in their life values and through their communication in various situations. For example, even despite the idyll seen in the relationships between characters when they live together, Jenny says that she is not the same as Forrest. This is the moment when contradictions are reflected through Jenny’s uncertainty about her life purpose. She tries to find the deep aim losing the truth and essence of existence and happiness. Jenny and Forrest only achieve the praxis in raising the child in the final scenes. The contradictions are the driving force of maintaining their communication throughout the film. The characters can only find the touchpoint of their communication thanks to the experienced tensions.
Conclusion
The relationships between the main characters of the Forrest Gump movie are an example of the attraction and creation dialects theories of communication. Jenny’s and Forrest’s attraction to each other is caused by the reinforcement inquiries, which are explained by the attraction theory. Throughout the narration, the characters’ relationships are developed through the contradictions of their life values. Therefore, solving the conflicts results in establishing understanding and supporting communication.
Works Cited
“Attraction Theories.”European Medical, 2022.
“Relational Dialectics Theory.”Communication Theory.