The Pursuit of Happyness - Characters & Cast

His primary motivation is the well-being and future of his son, Christopher Jr. Haunted by the absence of his own father, Chris's driving force is to break that cycle and provide his son with security and the knowledge that his father will always be there for him. His pursuit of a career in finance is the vehicle through which he aims to achieve this fundamental goal.

Chris begins as a struggling, down-on-his-luck salesman whose optimism is being crushed by financial failure. He is intelligent and driven but trapped by his circumstances. Throughout the film, he is stripped of everything—his home, his money, his wife—but his resolve hardens. His arc is not one of changing his core values (he is always a loving father) but of channeling his intelligence and incredible perseverance to transform his external reality, moving from utter destitution to the pinnacle of professional success.

As a young child, his motivations are simple: to be with his father, to play, and to feel safe. His unconditional love and trust serve as a powerful source of motivation for his father, reminding Chris of what he is fighting for.

Christopher's arc is one of maintaining innocence amidst trauma. He begins as a typical, happy five-year-old. As their situation worsens, he is forced to adapt to a life of instability and fear, yet he never loses his trust and love for his father. Through Chris's efforts to shield him, Christopher's spirit remains largely unbroken, though the progression of the film slowly strips away some of his childhood naivete.

Her motivation is to escape the crushing weight of financial instability. She no longer believes in Chris's ability to provide for them and seeks a more stable life, even if it means leaving her family behind. She feels Chris is dragging them down and blames him for her unhappiness.

Linda does not have a significant arc; she represents a point of departure. She starts the film already at her breaking point, exhausted from working double shifts and seeing no future in Chris's ventures. Her decision to leave is not portrayed as malicious but as an act of self-preservation born from despair. She effectively exits the narrative, solidifying Chris's status as a single father.