Study-Themes and Narrative Structure

 Film: Forrest Gump 

Premise of the plot: 

This film follows a simple-minded but very kind Alabama man who inadvertently influences major American historical events over the course of three decades. The narrative follows him through his life from when he was a young boy who was bullied for wearing braces, a college football star, a Vietnam war hero, ping-pong champion, shrimping tycoon, to a cross-country runner. His eventful life takes many twists and turns, while his love for his childhood friend Jenny remains the same. 

Main themes: 

Forrest Gump features many different themes. 

Resiliency: The movie portrays how to rebuild one’s life through physical, social, spiritual, and mental strength through characters like Lt. Dan as Forrest helps him recover and find purpose in his life. 

Unconditional love/loyalty: Forrest’s unwavering love for his childhood friend Jenny, and his strong bond/friendship with Lt. Dan act as an emotional but strong anchor throughout the story. 

The American Dream/history: Forrest moves through, and often unintentionally influences pivotal moments such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and Watergate, showing that one’s success can come to anyone regardless of your background. 

Destiny vs. Personal influence: As Forrest experiences a multitude of events and achieves many different things, we witness him finding himself in these situations, and we observe what he does with what he has. Life gave him the materials, but his attitude determined his direction. So, we see the commentary of whether our lives are destined for something or whether we can control it. 

Narrative structure: 

Forrest Gump follows a linear, episodic narrative structure that follows him throughout his life in a series of flashbacks he has at a bus stop or the “present” which the film begins. Each era within the episodic structure represents a different chapter in his life. 

Conflict: 

The conflict type in this story is character vs. World, or an external conflict. Forrest Gump is shown as an innocent, simple man who navigates through a crazy and rapidly changing life. 

Characters: 

The main character, or protagonist in the film, is Forrest Gump. The film does not include one specific “antagonist” or “villain,” rather, the obstacles of life and societal hurdles are what gets in Forrest’s way. Occasionally characters might be framed as people who get in the way of Forrest’s happiness, but never one prominent bad guy. There is a love interest, Jenny, and there are friends or allies along the way, such as Lt. Dan. Some characters were there simply for the historical effect, as many were representative of important historical events that are not necessarily important to Forrest’s life but are people he interacts with. 

Study-Character Arcs

Evident story arcs: 

Lieutenant Dan’s Redemption Arc-Dan begins as a hard-core solider who wants to die in battle. Instead, Forrest saves him, and he becomes a very physically disabled veteran. His arc involves him accepting Forrest’s help and finding purpose in his new life. 

Jenny’s Arc-Since childhood, her story involves a long downward spiral of abuse and eventually self-destructive choices as she navigates life. She tries to find happiness in the world before finally returning to her roots. 

Forrest’s Consistent Arc-While characters around him change; Forrest remains the same in his morals and values and beliefs. He stays consistently innocent and loyal, while following his mother’s saying; “does his best with what God gave him.” 

Bubba Gump Arc-Forrest proves his dedication to a promise he made to a friend. He completely transforms the small business into a successful business empire, and he overcame the loss of his friend. 

American History Arc-Forrest interacts with many historical figures and events throughout history, such as JFK, Elvis Presley, the Vietnam War, and Watergate. The film serves as a panorama of the 1960’s-70’s and the story arc of American history. 

Todorov’s narrative theory: 

(Initial equilibrium, disruption, recognition, attempt to repair, and new equilibrium.) 

Lieutenant Dan’s Redemption Arc-Lt. Dan at first had initial equilibrium, where he was fully committed to his way of living. He was a soldier with a mission to die in battle and serve. His disruption was being severely wounded in battle and rather than dying, Forrest saves him and he becomes a disabled veteran. Lt. Dan becomes embittered and depressed about his situation. He recognizes his issue and is resistant to accept it, while Forrest recognizes his problem with a different attitude; attempting to repair and help him. Lt. Dan finally accepts Forrest’s help and his new life, reaching new equilibrium. 

Jenny’s Arc-Jenny first had initial equilibrium for the most part of childhood, blissfully ignorant and innocent alongside Forrest Gump. Her disruption begins when she experiences the outside world and grows up; she is abused and becomes self-destructive. Jenny recognizes her issues and constantly explores new areas and realms, attempting to repair her issue by discovering new heights and finding happiness in the world. She finally decides to return home to her roots and reunite with Forrest, reaching an imperfect but new equilibrium.  

Bubba Gump Arc-Initial equilibrium is when Bubba and Forrest meet and become friends as soldiers in the Vietnam War. Disruption occurs when Bubba dies in Forrest’s arms during the War. This prompted Forrest to honor his best friend’s dream in recognition of the disruption. Forrest then attempts to repair by purchasing a shrimping boat and partnering with Lt. Dan to grow the business.  New equilibrium is reached when Forrest makes it the famous “Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.” and gives a substantial number of profits to Bubba’s mother. He overcomes the loss of his friend and allows for his dream to become a reality. 

Other storytelling techniques: 

Forrest’s Consistent Arc-This arc is a flat character arc in an episodic structure. Forrest acts as an anchor and instead of changing his values, he remains the same in the chaotic and transforming world around him. He is honest, simple, and persistent throughout the entirety of the film, and his traits are revealed in episodic events. 

American History Arc-This arc is told through a frame narrative. It uses digital effects to blend the fictional character Forrest into footage of real events in history, creating a chronological journey through 20th century American history. 

Main narrative in relation to story arcs: 

The main narrative of Forrest Gump is a retrospective, episodic journey of an intellectually disabled but kind-hearted man. Historical integration in major cultural milestones is seemingly coincidentally related back to Forrest. The love story arc with Jenny, parallel to his adventures; the central narrative is the emotional and unconditional devotion to Jenny and is in alignment with his journey. Interactions with Forrest Gump and arcs in other characters like Lt. Dan and Bubba also contribute to his baseline narrative of innocence and loyalty. 

Study-Propp's Theory

 Limiting factors of Propp’s theory: 

Propp’s theory, which analyzes the structure of folk tales, has limitations. It is very rigid, and not all narratives fit neatly into his framework. Some stories have characters that do not fit into the rules he defined, or they might skip some of the functions he outlined. Modern storytelling often plays with these structures, so Propp’s theory can seem a little bit too simple for some complex stories. 

Characters that do not fit the mold: 

Forrest Gump, the main character, does fit some of the hero's archetypes, but not perfectly. He's innocent and often naïve, but he's also a catalyst for change, even if he does not fully understand. Other characters, like Jenny, might fit some roles, but the film is less about a clear-cut hero journey and more about exploring themes. 

Characters that signify a change in society: 

Forrest’s naivety allows him to be a witness to major historical events without preconceived notions. His acceptance to others, regardless of race, background, etcetera, reflects the revolving attitudes towards. Inclusivity. Bubba's aspirations for the shrimp business highlight the American Dream and the pursuit of economic opportunities, even in the face of adversity. His story touches on themes of ambition. Jenny struggles with societal expectations, search for identity, and experiences with counterculture reflect the changing roles of women and the challenges faced by those defied in traditional norms. These characters each in their own way, embody complexities of societal and cultural shifts.