English When Forrest Gump Says, "Life Is Term Paper

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When Forrest Gump says, "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get," he iterates his views on fate, destiny, and freewill. Although he exercises his freewill by choosing which chocolate to take from the box, the outcomes of all his choices are beyond his control. Therefore, both Forrest and his mother espouse a belief in predestination and fate. Mrs. Gump, who gave Forrest so much of his basic wisdom, encourages Forrest to make the most of what life delivers. Her positive affirmations and her inspiring confidence in her son help him to achieve the many great feats he does throughout the story. Forrest is forced to overcome great physical difficulties as a child, including being beaten up by other kids. However, he takes the cards that fate dealt him and reworks his destiny. The message here seems contradictory: on the one hand fate is out of human hands, and on the other hand, each person has the power of choice, of freewill. These two outlooks on life coexist in Forrest Gump and are explored as themes throughout Robert Zemeckis's film.

Forrest's friend Jenny represents the opposite extreme.

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She is the most free-spirited character in Forrest Gump, and does not share Forrest's idealistic view of their lives. Jenny does not seem to believe in fate, and yet ironically she is aware of the immanence of her own death once she contracts AIDS. Jenny poses a unique contrast between fate and freewill because she constantly fights her destiny of being with Forrest but eventually comes to terms with her inevitable mortality. Because she and Forrest had a child together, it would seem that the couple was destined to be together in some way. Forrest's constant love and devotion for her shows that he strongly believes in their fated love. In fact, much of what Forrest does is to win Jenny's heart; since they were children Forrest feels they are meant to be together.

Along his journey, Forrest is drafted into the army and serves in the Vietnam War. Forrest's resolve and willingness to participate in the war is a….....

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