Forrest Gump’s Jenny is one of the most controversial characters in movie history, widely misunderstood for how she treated Forrest all her life. She embodies the loss of innocence and self-destruction in how she leads her life, digging her own grave, until finally she succumbs to the consequences of her choices. Amidst her pool of mistakes, it’s easy to overlook how, after Mrs. Gump, it was she who instilled all the courage in the world into Forrest, emotionally protecting him in a way nobody ever protected her (except Forrest). It was the “Run, Forrest, run” moment in the film where it all began. However, it's interesting to analyze how “running” meant two completely different things for the two of them. In this article, we’re exploring how the three words “Run, Forrest, run” have an overarching influence on the character arcs of the two leading characters of Forrest Gump. To Give You A Little Context…Raised in Alabama by a single mother, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) was born with a stunted mind and a set of disabled limbs. He lives alone with his mother, Mrs. Gump, who was raising him by running a boarding house out of their ancestral home. His differences rendered him isolated, and Jenny was his only friend. She was his neighbor, and the two went to the same school. Jenny came from an extremely troubled family. Her childhood was scarred by her father, “a very loving man, always kissing and touching her and her sisters.” Forrest’s friendship was...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - 3 days ago