American Dream In Forrest Gump

Generally speaking, the definition of American dream is “Everyone can achieve a better life through self reliance and hard work”. According to the definition, there are three central ideas: equality, self-reliance and hard work. In the definition of American dream, equality should be interpreted as “Anyone should be offered equal opportunity despite of his religion, race, birth” and “Everyone should be judged by his achievements instead of his titles”.

One of the key elements that make Forrest Gump's success a great story is his innate imperfection intellectually and physically. However, these imperfections have turned into motivation instead of obstacle on his way to success out of his faith in himself, his hard work, self-reliance and a stroke of luck. Intellectual and physical challenges did not make him different than others in Forrest Gump's notion of equality. (Though he may not know the word equality, in his simply shaped mind, he believes he's no different than others according to the first chapter where he expresses his desire to study in “normal” school.)

In the early days when he was bullied and mocked at by classmates for his physical imperfection, he did not rely on others to help him out. He runs his own way off the malicious classmates, which can be interpreted as self-reliance. Football coach's recognition of his ability is also fruit from his self-reliance, so is his later success as a footballer, Pingpong player, soldier, fisherman. These are all achieved by his self-reliance. Forrest Gump should extend his gratitude to his mother who shaped this concept of self reliance in his mind: when Forrest still walks with a leg frame, his mother never gives him a balance and his mother who keeps telling him that he is no different than others and that he can become the man he wants to be if he works hard enough.

There is too much to mention and quote in Forrest Gump about “hard work”. Forrest was the fastest in loading guns, and the best in many other military practices with a plain mind of persistence. God knows how many times more he has done these practices. When he's determined to be a fisherman, he never gives up despite of countless failures out of unfavorable weather. It's when others give up the persistent one wins, so does Forrest. Forrest's earlier runs for survival from his classmates may also be interpreted as a kind of hard work, though forced.

At last, no dreams can come through without a stroke of luck. So is every American dream.