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Themes In Forrest Gump

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Forrest Gump (1994), directed by Robert Zemeckis, portrays the life of a simple-minded, good and honest American, Forrest Gump, who witnesses or sometimes even involves in some of the most important events in the United States and inspires some popular cultures at the time. The story discusses love, destiny, innocence and serendipity. The director employs several elements to convey these themes. The main character encountering different people, in flashback or in the present, not only moves the story forward, also portrays the themes of serendipity and innocence. The innocent perspective of Forrest Gump towards some serious topics, namely, racism, child abuse, drug use, war violence, and politics, also is a distinguished part of the movie. It is easier for the audience to possess these issues. The use of music or silent also helps convey the atmosphere of the film and highlight characters’ emotions. Symbolism also plays a huge part in this movie. One of the most prominent elements in the movie is the narration of Forrest Gump, who serves as a first-person narrator to tell his life story. In the beginning, Gump sits in the bus stop and starts talking to the lady sit next to him and recollects his childhood. The Passers-by do not respond too much to the dialogue except for some comments or farewells. After the retrospect at the bus stop, the narrative becomes third-person. When Jenny dies, Gump becomes the narrator again, accounting his life after Jenny died. This
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