The “Forrest Gump” Film as a History Lesson Essay

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Introduction

“Forrest Gump” has certainly become one of the top-ranking movies both in regards to critics and the public. Needless to say, it deserves recognition for the unique approaches implemented by the film screenwriters and the director. Two aspects, in particular, can be illustrated as exemplary in creating an insightful yet humorous and light-hearted atmosphere for the viewer. On the one hand, the employment of historical events and their alignment with the storyline of the characters is nuanced. It generates a sense of reality for the otherwise fictional world depicted on the screen. On the other hand, the humorous and, at the same time, deep and complex situations and character traits of Forrest Gump himself facilitate a connection between the viewer and the events in the movie. It is a story in which history is combined with the captivating life of the main character for the purpose of emphasizing the importance of resilience and kindness.

History

In regards to the history depicted in “Forrest Gump”, multiple episodes were included in the movie, with the main character being digitally implemented in each of them. For example, contributing to Elvis Presley’s iconic dance, meeting JFK, witnessing the efforts to end segregation in universities, and being deployed to Vietnam are crucial events in American history (Zemeckis, 1994). Nonetheless, the film does not go in-depth but rather illustrates them in an amusing manner. This highlights the situation in which Forrest, directly or indirectly, participates in highly influential national and international processes. Thus, on the one hand, history adds depth and a “reality” factor, while the humor that is used to depict said processes establish a more light-hearted overview of them.

Main Character

Another aspect of the movie that is to be considered is the main character. One might say that Forrest Gump is an illustration of how luck can benefit people no matter their abilities, skills, and aspirations. However, Forrest Gump was not just a character who received everything he ever wanted because of fate. Instead, everything he acquired was obtained through two main elements. Forrest always listened to people who were more experienced than him. From being close to his mother to running when Captain Dan was telling him to or following the instruction of his football coach, such elements show Forrest’s trust in others (Zemeckis, 1994). Gump was aware that he might not know everything, which is why he relied on people who had more knowledge on certain subjects.

Another factor that helped Forrest succeed was perseverance. He did not stop because of the barriers that were limiting him, such as the leg braces (Zemeckis, 1994). Moreover, he worked hard to succeed in football, the army, ping-pong, his business, the marathon, and his relationship with Jenny. He did not stop halfway, which is why he managed to fulfill every goal he set. Moreover, succeeding at many things did not minimize his kindness toward others, generosity, and honesty.

Conclusion

“Forrest Gump” is a movie in which two elements, namely, history and humor, have been successfully incorporated. The film portrays important events in an amusing manner, which makes them both more relatable and enjoyable to learn about. Moreover, the main character is an excellent depiction of someone who works hard to succeed in fulfilling his dreams. He does it while remaining gentle towards the needs of others and maintaining a sense of innocence and such values as honesty, resilience, and integrity. Forrest Gump managed to survive the hardships of life despite the multiple barriers that were in front of him.

References

Zemeckis, R. (1994). Forrest Gump [Film]. Paramount Pictures.

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IvyPanda. "The “Forrest Gump” Film as a History Lesson." February 10, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-forrest-gump-film-as-a-history-lesson/.

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