Forrest Gump Themes

The 1994 film called Forrest Gump was an iconic american movie that left many viewers emotionally moved. Another story, that takes place during the depression, Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, shares many similar motifs. There are many similarities and differences between the main characters and themes in Forrest Gump and Of Mice and Men.
The character of Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump strongly parallels the character of Lennie in Of Mice and Men while still exhibiting significant differences. It may appear quite obvious why a parallel is drawn between these two characters, but there are also more subtle similarities than solely having a low IQ.
“‘Jus’ wanted to feel that girl's dress—jus' wanted to pet it like it was a mouse”(Steinbeck
“‘But you ain't gonna get in no trouble, because if you do, I won't let you tend the rabbits.’ He threw his empty bean can off into the Brush. ‘I won't get in no trouble, George. I ain't gonna say a word’”(Steinbeck
Lieutenant Dan had Forrest assigned to his platoon without any say and George was obligated to take care of Lennie because Lennie’s sole caretaker, his Aunt, had died. On the surface, these “father figures” appear brutal. Both George and Taylor swear and yell at Lennie and Forrest constantly. However, there is a deep compassionate bond between the two pairs. While the previous quote is an example of how often Lieutenant Dan yells at Forrest, it also demonstrates how he is looking out for Forrest. Dan never takes any chances and always puts his men and Forrest first. He is always racing into the hellish conditions before his men, putting their lives above his. After the war, Dan continues to watch out for Forrest when they go into the shrimping business together. Even when the economy is desperate, Dan never leaves and stays by Forrest. When the business picks up, he never cheats Forrest out of money. In fact, he manages all of the revenue and even invests some of Forrest’s money into a new startup company called Apple. This in turn makes both the men millionaires, and Dan makes sure the profits are split evenly. George acts in a similar manner with Lennie. George is always yelling at Lennie, but he does out of a true interest for Lennie’s well being. By using this technique of “tough love”, George is able to help Lennie remember things better and be more successful. Similarly to