Gump as allegory?
While I both read the book and watched the film ‘Forrest Gump’, Forrest’s journey along American history was one of the most interesting parts of the story. As I watched the progress of Forrest, I was not only amused by somewhat unbelievable nature of the story but started to think that the author must have had a reason for writing such a far-fetched novel: allegory.
The protagonist Forrest represents America. He is not discriminating, willing to risk his own life for others, suffers abuse from others without retaliation, consistent, and defends what he loves. As Forrest progress in the novel, he never forgets Jenny who he loves. He sacrifices himself to save people and protects people. These qualities of Forrest are similar to what America, or more precisely ‘Ideal America’, should have.
However, Jenny is who symbolizes all that is wrong with America. She had a hard childhood filled with abuse. She acts out and does drastic things such as drugs. As a baby boom hippie, Jenny suggests that America holds several problems. The author suggests that one should cure and change Jenny, problems in America.
There are several other characters in the movie who were used as a symbol, such as the school principal who represents corrupt government or Forrest’s mother who represents caring god-like figure. However, I was most intrigued by Forrest and Jenny’s son. Jenny gives birth to her son and hopes him to be just like his father; we should hope our children be better and put our hopes to the future.
One may think that Forrest Gump is just a amusing child-like story, but it was interesting to look it from a different angle and see America’s social problems and solutions in one novel.
