Forrest Gump - Characters & Cast

Forrest is primarily motivated by his love for Jenny and his desire to keep his promises to his friends and family. He lives his life according to the simple, profound wisdom imparted by his mother, such as "Stupid is as stupid does," which means one is defined by their actions, not their perceived intelligence.

Forrest's journey is less of a traditional character arc and more of a steadfast progression through a changing world. Despite his low IQ, he remains consistently kind, loyal, and optimistic from childhood to adulthood. His 'development' comes from the vast experiences he accumulates and the wisdom he gains, culminating in his understanding of life's dual nature of chance and destiny and his role as a loving father. He finds peace and contentment by the film's end.

Jenny is motivated by a deep-seated desire to escape her traumatic past. Her actions are often a cry for help and a search for an identity separate from the pain of her childhood. She constantly seeks love but struggles to accept the pure, unconditional love that Forrest offers her until the end of her life.

Jenny's arc is a tragic and tumultuous one. Scarred by childhood abuse, she spends most of her life running from her past, seeking freedom through the counter-culture, drugs, and a series of abusive relationships. Her journey is one of self-destruction and a desperate search for love and peace. She finally finds a semblance of peace and returns to Forrest, but it is cut short by her illness. Her arc concludes with her apologizing to Forrest and finding a brief period of happiness with him and their son.

Initially, his motivation is to fulfill what he perceives as his family's military destiny. After his injury, his motivation becomes a nihilistic self-destruction fueled by rage against Forrest and God. His motivation shifts towards recovery and finding new meaning after he joins Forrest in the shrimping business and survives a hurricane at sea, which serves as a spiritual turning point.

Lieutenant Dan begins as a proud, career military man who believes it is his destiny to die in battle, like his ancestors. When Forrest saves him, leaving him a double amputee, he is consumed by bitterness, anger, and a sense of purposelessness. His journey is about coming to terms with his new reality, finding a new will to live, and ultimately making peace with God and with Forrest. He transforms from a broken man into a successful and content individual with "magic legs" and a fiancée.

Her sole motivation is to ensure that Forrest has the same opportunities as everyone else and to instill in him a sense of self-worth. She provides him with simple, memorable aphorisms to navigate a complicated world, believing that he is "no different" from anyone else.

Mrs. Gump is a constant source of strength and wisdom in Forrest's life. She is a fiercely protective mother who refuses to let society's judgments define her son's potential. Her arc is fulfilled through Forrest's successes, which are a direct result of her unwavering belief in him. She faces her own death with grace, imparting final words of wisdom to her son.