A sudden flash of light followed by a slow, rumbling thunder. Then the rain begins. Drop after drop after drop, all joining together in small trickles. Soon, a small stream forms and then, a river. The river takes many twists and turns. It meanders through land on its way to its only destination, the ocean. The river is free to flow and yet still has a destiny. This concept is similar to the message of Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 film Forrest Gump. Explained through the techniques of motif, symbolism, and characterization, Zemeckis demonstrates how everyone has a destiny, but the journey to it is undefined.
Throughout the film, the motifs of a feather and birds are used to promote the message. The feather seen both at the beginning and the end of the film has a clear purpose. The feather simply floats about on the breeze, no direct route and no known destination. This feather represents the journey to destiny, free and random. Similarly, birds also ride upon the wind, but do so with more choice. They are still free and, though it may seem less so, just as random. Whatever choices are made leads ever on towards destiny.
Another technique used to convey Zemeckis’ message is symbolism. Zemeckis places emphases on legs, shoes, and roads. The shoes bear people to their destination. Legs drive the choices they make and move them to where they wish to go. Roads give people options. The combination of all three leads to many possibilities. Numerous paths may be taken and all are part of the journey towards destiny.
The Term Paper on Khajavi V Feather River Anesthesia Medical Group Case
1.Official Citations NOSRAT KHAJAVI: Plaintiff, Appellant and Respondent, vs. FEATHER RIVER ANESTHESIA MEDICAL GROUP: Appellant, Defendants and Respondents. APPEAL from the judgment of the Superior Court of Sutter County, Perry Parker, Judge. Reversed, in part; remanded, in part; and affirmed, in part. Weintraub Genshlea & Sproul, Rosemary Kelley, Charles L. Post, and William S. Jue, for ...
Besides symbolism and motif, characterization is another technique used to express the message of Forrest Gump. The three main characters of the film, Forrest, Jenny, and Lieutenant Dan, are all different in terms of how they live their lives and travel towards destiny. Forrest is like the feather, blown around by the wind and does whatever he is told. This journey, though random and simple, leads Forrest to many good things. He never knew where he would en up, but he reached it all the same. Jenny, however, is more like the birds. She is always trying to fly away, get away from her troubles. But the wind still has an effect on her and is always bringing Forrest around. Lt. Dan began as being represented by shoes, legs, and roads. He believes he knows his destiny. When Forrest rescues him, he feels cheated. He felt in control of his destiny before, but with the loss of his legs he is angry and confused. Throughout the rest of the film he continues to challenge others, himself, and God. He tries to resist the gust of wind that demands to pick him up. Forrest, riding this wind, picks him up and Lt. Dan now continues his journey as a bird. He used to walk, but now flies. He continues to make choices but also lets the wind take him places. These characters plainly suggest the message of destiny.
The wind continues to blow and the river continues to flow. Sometimes people are picked up and other times people are dropped off to their final destination. Everyone has a destiny with a random journey leading to it. That is the message of the Zemeckis film, Forrest Gump. Destiny is explained through the motif of feathers and birds, the symbolism found in shoes, legs, and roads, and the very characters themselves, a journey meandering to the end.
