Forrest Gump gave us some classic quotes: "Life is like a box of chocolates"; "Lieutenant Daaaan!"; and, of course, "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is."
At its core, Forrest Gump is a love story—a love story between Forrest and his momma, but more importantly, a love story between Forrest and Jenny. While he spends nearly the whole movie mooning over Jenny, she spends the whole movie trying to escape that love. To her, love is sick and twisted because all she's ever known is her father's abusive version of it. But eventually, Forrest's unchanging love (and a tragic encounter with AIDS) is able to transform Jenny. But, here's our question: are we supposed to see this as a satisfying love story, or is love just a way for Jenny to use Forrest one last time before she dies?
Questions about Love
- Why do you think Jenny keeps leaving Forrest throughout this movie?
- Why does Jenny finally ask Forrest to marry her?
- Is Forrest a good guy for loving Jenny no matter what, or does his devotion turn him into an emotional doormat?
- How does Forrest try to show his love for Jenny? Use examples from the movie to back up your answer.
- Does Jenny truly learn to love Forrest, or is she just using him?
Chew on This
In Forrest Gump, we learn that for some people, there's nothing more terrifying than unconditional love.
Forrest Gump reminds us that, in the end, love is the only thing that matters.