Forrest Gump Paper Layout & Ideas

His positive attitude means that he is able to live out a successful and fulfilling life by
not getting down when times get tough.
He experiences deaths
o Death of Bubba
o Death of his mother
o Death of Jenny
He goes on combat in the military
o Saves 4 people in his platoon, including himself during an ambush
Lieutenant Dan originally didnt want to be saved by Forrest,
but he eventually finds a new spiritual meaning to his life
because Forrest kept him alive.

Throughout the entirety of the film, Forrest is a well-mannered, friendly and
positive person. There is never really a time where he gets down or his mindset
about life changes path, even as Forrest comes face to face with the idea of death as
he

His innocence
Bullies torment him and begin to abuse him, and he doesnt know what to do
o Jenny tells him to run away
o Gump is incapable of critically assessing the world outside himself
and acting on that critique (Bowen).
Becomes an All-American football player, and goes to the White House
because of it
o Doesnt really appreciate the novelty of the experience there, but is
fascinated with the idea that he can drink as much Dr. Pepper as he
wants.
o Thus, he loves his trip to the White House for this reason
Forrest decides to go running after Jenny leaves him
o It turns into a three-year, coast-to-coast running adventure
o He begins to get nation-wide attention, but when people ask Forrest
why he is even running in the first place, he says its because he just
felt like running.
Forrest decides to live out his friend Bubbas dream by purchasing a shrimp
boat like they both decided theyd do after the army.
o Forrest has no idea what he is getting in to with the shrimping
industry, but he figures it will be fun and wants to honor his friend by
doing so.

Forrest lives his life how he wants, and he doesnt let money get in the way of it. He
doesnt have much desire for money and what it has to offer, and he never lets it
control him in any way.
Forrest is informed by his mother that he is presented with an endorsement
deal of $25,000 if he uses a different ping pong paddle when he plays
o Forrest doesnt like the idea of using a paddle that isnt his, but he
gives in to the endorsement after his mother tells him that she could
really benefit from the money
Forrest invests money into a shrimping business and purchases a shrimp
boat.
o Initially, the profit is minimal, but Forrest doesnt really mind
o After a storm wipes out the rest of the shrimp boats in the area,
Forrest and Lieutenant Dan make an enormous amount of money
because they are the only shrimp boat remaining in the area.
Lieutenant Dan invests some of the money from their successful shrimp
company into what Forrest calls a fruit company, which is actually Apple
Computer.
o Forrest makes it rich, and is set for the rest of his life, allowing him to
give his mother a check, which ultimately lets her retire from her job.
o When Lieutenant Dan calls him to let him know that he doesnt have
to worry about money anymore, Forrest says, Thats good. One less
thing.
o Forrest: Momma said there's only so much fortune a man really
needs and the rest is just for showing off. So, I gave a whole bunch of it
to the Foursquare Gospel Church and I gave a whole bunch to the
Bayou La Batre Fishing Hospital. And even though Bubba was dead,
and Lieutenant Dan said I was nuts, I gave Bubba's momma Bubba's
share. And you know what? She didn't have to work in nobody's
kitchen no more...
o And 'cause I was a gozillionaire and I liked doing it so much, I cut that
grass for free.

In "Forrest Gump," the intended message is that happiness is acquired through the
process of accepting and experiencing the challenges of life. Forrest himself
represents this ideal lifestyle, and he reinforces his method for happiness to the
audience by repeating the simile"life is like a box of chocolates; you never know
what you're gonna get"