Theme: Inspiration and Change

Mild 10-7
Many people inspire other people in many different ways, some through friendship, loyalty,
honesty, kindness and etc. In the film Finding Forrester by Gus Van Sant, the two main characters
have shown a deep relationship by which one was inspired by the other and another has inspire
many other people and got the chance to look back in another perspective. In this essay I intend to
show how William Forrester has inspired the audience by the changes he had from his friendship
with Jamal. This is expressed by the conflict, climax, and resolution of the story.
Forresters conflict shows that he needs a change or an inspiration to motivate himself. In
order for him to become who he was before. He is unable to face what he is trying to escape in the
past few years. For example, he does not often go outside because he doesnt want people to
recognize him from his fame, he wants them to know who he really is and what he really wants.
This relates to how his brother had died years ago when his book was published. Another example
is the fact that he hasnt write a new book after his first book was published. This is because of the
similar reason why he does not often go outside. People are worrying too much about his book
that they forgot what their job is. In addition, he is unable to open up and express his thoughts to
others. We can see this from how he doesnt want Jamal to ask about his family and doesnt allow
him to show the work he produced in the apartment to the people outside. This shows that he
wants to keep everything a secret. Also he doesnt want a company, for example when the mail
man come and slip the envelopes through a gap between the floor and his apartment door.
Forrester doesnt have any friends because he likes to be alone and feels uncomfortable with other
people. This is why he always watches the others from his apartment window.
The climax of the story comes in when Forrester show signs of change from the inspiration
he had from Jamal. He discovers that he has a friend when Jamal starts coming to his apartment
and give him a very memorable birthday present that changes everything. The present Jamal gave
him is bringing him to the Yankee Stadium. At this place he reminisces the times he have had with
his brother and his family. Ha had told Jamal that they have never missed a game. It is also
revealed that his brother had a car crash and died. He blames the nurse for not taking care of his
brother, but instead she kept talking about how good his book was. This courage he had from the
support that Jamal had given to him, allows him to be able to go out of his apartment and face his
fears. For example, when he droves around on his bicycle and went to Jamals school.
The character, Forrester, have changed by the end of the movie by the inspiration he had
from the true friendship that Jamal had given him. Forrester can now leave his apartment, drives
around on his bicycle and finally leaves for Scotland. At nearly the end of the movie, Forrester had
some misunderstanding towards Jamal. This is because Jamal had use the work he produced inside
the apartment and handed it in to Crawford. Then after, Jamal wrote him a letter to apologize and
said about how much he meant to him. This is the time when he realizes their friendship and
continues to keep and close relationship with Jamal afterwards. For example, after Forrester had
decided that he would leave New York to go to his home town, Scotland. They eachange letters
talking about their lives and their current situation. Forrester had open up to Jamal and so after he
had died of cancer, Jamal inherit all of his fortune.
In conclusion, William Forrester has inspired the audience throughout the movie from the
inspiration he had from a boy from another race named Jamal. The conflict, climax, and resolution
of the story show signs of change in terms of Forrester characteristic and behavior. He has become
the old William Forrester he used to be before his brother had died from the terrible incident. He
can now face his fears and stands out in the crowd once again. One thing that would change forever
is his heart that discovers that there is still another person who really cares for who he is and
understands all of his intentions. Now they both know it in their heart that for as long as eternity,
their friendship will always last and never ended.