美国文化在《阿甘正传》中的体现

On Reflection of American Culture in Forrest GumpI. IntroductionWinston Groom is a famous American writer. In 1986, he writes Forrest Gump, however, it doesnt make Groom famous until it is adapted into a film with the same name in 1994. It is the film that drives the novel to the best-seller position and it is sold 1.7million copies worldwide. It makes Winston Grooms name be associated with the award-winning film Forrest Gump. The movie gains over 657 million worldwide, gathering six Academy Awards, such as best picture, best director, and best actor, etc. It is the actor Tom Hanks that brings Forrest Gump to eternal life, and Forrest Gumps assertion that “life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you are going to get” (Groom, 2010:20) becomes part of the American language. Whats more, Forrest Gump is so popular that Winston Groom has to write two guidebooks to help people understand the novel. Forrest Gump phenomenon begins to spring up in the country, Forrest Gump hats and T-shirts are popular in the country. In the enthusiasm of the film, the fact that Groom is a famous fiction and non-fiction writer is somewhat overshadowed. About Forrest Gump, Xue Yuemin and Guo Jians The Charms of Forrest Gump explores that in what way Forrest Gump goes along with so many peoples mind and wins the admiration of the public from esthetic value; Ji Tingting and Yin Lus The American Dream out of Forrest Gump (2011) illustrates the American Dream by analyzing the qualities and characteristics of Gump; Zhu Meihong and Liu Lihongs Analysis of Black Humor in the Movie Forrest Gump From Rhetorical Perspective list a series of rhetorical methods such as simile, metaphor, irony and hyperbole and it also explains how the black humor affects with a lot of examples; Liu Yuxia, Li Meng and Zhou Mins Cultural ContradictionA Brief Analysis of Jenny: Symbol of a Cultural Rebellion in Forrest Gump(2012); Zu Wanhuis The Analysis of Religious Culture in Forrest Gump(2012); Yang Lis The Masculine Ideology in Forrest Gump (2010) illustrates the cultural phenomenon that women are predominated by men by using the examples of Mrs. Forrest and Jenny; Chen Jings On American Culture From Forrest Gump(2010) States the history that happens in the background of the second half 20th century in America to arouse a deep thinking for the past and the American Dream which is cherished by every American people, from this people can see the footstep of the development of American culture and the core of American culture; Wu Wentings The Lonely Runner(2009) refers to all aspects of Americas politics, economics, culture and history, it hints a lot of philosophy of life; Yan Huis Forrest Gump and American Dream points out the resource of American Dream and its effect on people including Jenny, Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan, it also expresses the call of American Dream; Li Nans A Breeze from the Chaos An Analysis of the Film Forrest Gump (2012) reflects the negative poits of the popular culture and the positive points of the traditional culture; Liu Yangs Looking For the lost hero(2004) tells about a story about a common character whose name is Forrest Gump, although he is common, he has played and experienced a significant role in the events of that time. He is a typical American hero and still has an influence to todays Americans; Li Pengs The Return of Social Value in Forrest Gump(2009) criticizes the popular culture and tries to heal the schism of social value and praised a return of value which bases on the traditional and religious conservational value; Zhang Jings The Analysis of American Culture in the Anti-intellectual Movie Forrest Gump calls for the return of American traditional culture and shows the spirit of love, purity and perseverance which are the best explanations to American Dream, it also embodies the change of American culture and the liquidity and expansionary of American culture; Li Hongmeis On the Reflection of American culture and society in Forrest Gump analyzes three aspects including the holy fool phenomenon, Forrest Gump philosophy and the symbolism of Forrest Gump.It is well known that every country has its own culture. Edward T.Hall says that “Culture hides much more than it reveals and strangely enough what it hides, it hides most effectively from its own participants” (Datesman, 2006:1). This essay intends to expose American culture in Forrest Gump. America is an immigrant country who brings different languages and different cultures to the Unites States, so America is a nation of cultural diversity. Forrest Gump is an inclusive and extensive novel, which has many implications that need readers to taste. It is like a box of assorted chocolates, as long as the readers have the intentions to taste, everyone will have a different understanding of it. In the novel there are so many deep meanings hidden behind the simple events that have taken place in those years that one can get a fully understanding by reading it once only. It is worthy of repeated reading. Some deeper meanings can be understood by reading over and over again. It tells a life experience of an intellectual impaired man: Forrest Gump, whose IQ is only 75, much lower than the normal, his successful experience of becoming wealthy through his hard work and luck. Besides, the events that happen in the novel are all typical and significant ones in those times, such as the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, anti-war movement, anti-racialism and the turning of American presidents, they form the centre of American culture. This thesis aims to analyze the reflection of American culture in Forrest Gump from three aspects: religious culture, popular culture, traditional culture. II. Reflection of Religious Culture in Forrest GumpReligious culture has an irreplaceable position in American life. Most of Americans believe in Christian. God has a very important position in their heart. They use “oh, my God” to express surprise and use “God bless you” to express blessing. They also print “In God We Trust” in the American dollar to express national belief and even in Presidential Inaugural Address, the president needs to put his hands in Biblical. In Forrest Gump, religious culture also has an important part in the three main characters: Forrest Gump, Jenny and Lieutenant Dan. This part intends to analyze the reflection of religious culture in Gump, the impact of religious culture to Jenny and the attitude change towards religious culture of Lieutenant Dan. 2.1 The Similarity of Forrest Gump and JesusIn some ways, Forrest Gump and Jesus are alike. First, their family backgrounds are alike. Forrest Gump comes from a single-parent family and is reared by his mother while his father never occurs in the novel. Similarly, Jesus, according to Biblical, is born in the primitive lodgings of an animal stable. His mother Mary is said to be pregnancy when she is a virgin. She feels very strange until one day an angel comes and tells her that this child is made by the power of Holy Spirit and he is to save the world. She must give birth to this baby and name him Jesus, so Jesus is the son of God. He has not the real father in the human world.Second, they all run in the way. Forrest Gump is unlucky when he is a child. There is something wrong with his legs and he has to use the braces to walk and Jenny is his only friend. Every time when Forrest Gump is bullied by other boys, Jenny always tells him to run, just run. With Jennys encouragement, he runs away from bullies, runs to high school, runs to the football team of university and runs out of dangers in the Vietnam War. It seems that he is running all his life and never stops. Similarly, Jesus devotes all his life to preaching and hasnt a stable profession, he and his followers are running and preaching everywhere and never stop.Third, they have the similar life ending. Forrest Gumps son has the same name with him, little Forrest Gumps first time to take the school bus to school almost reoccurs the scene of the beginning of the novel. It is easily to make people realize the scene of Forrest Gumps first time to take the school bus. More dramatically, the driver is exactly the same woman. These details may point out that Forrest Gumps life is continuing in this way. Similarly, Jesus is continuing his life in the heaven. Their life endings coincide with each other.2.2 The Symbol of an Angel of JennyJenny is as pure as an angel. The most impressive plot of Jenny is the first meeting on the school bus with Forrest Gump. When other children all look down upon him as he is an “idiot” and dont want to sit together with him, it is Jenny that helps him. Forrest Gump says: I, Idont recall what I got for my first Christmas and I dont know when I went on my first outdoor picnic. But, I do remember the first time I heard the sweetest voicein the world. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life. She was like an angel. (ibid: 268) This is the kind and nave girl who never looks down upon Forrest Gump because he is an idiot. It is the very beginning of their friendship and the love between them. Whats more, no one can forget Jennys pious pray in the corn field. “Make me a bird, so I can fly far, far, far from here” (ibid: 142). She is Forrest Gumps angel. When Gump is bullied and teased by other boys in their childhood, Jenny always shouts anxiously that run, Forrest, run! Even before Forrest is sent to Vietnam, Jenny says: “listen, you promise me something, ok? Just if youre ever in trouble, dont try to be brave, you just run, ok? Just run away” (ibid: 204). From a little girl to a lady, Jenny keeps on telling Forrest to bear this in mind and it really works. With this faith, he runs away from the bully; with this faith, he becomes a famous football player in America; with this faith, he rescues his comrade-in-arms from battlefield; with this faith, he becomes the runner who is followed by a lot of fans. It is the simple principle of life just struggles for life without any reason. It is Jennys call that made Forrest Gumps life becomes more and more flat.Her wedding gown is an image of an angel. The more obvious expression of an angel image is in the wedding ceremony. Jennys wedding gown is not the common wedding dress people often see, but she dresses an ancient Greek style one. Jenny wears a wreath of flowers and a beige gown with bare feet. She is just a symbol of an angel.2.3 The Representation of Salvation of Lieutenant DanHe is doubtful about God in the war. Lieutenant Dan is an important role in the novel. He comes from a family with a military background, so he thinks it is proud to die in the battlefield. However, in a war, he and his soldiers are attacked by their enemy, and they are defeated. He is saved by Forrest Gump but he is badly wounded and his legs are amputated. He feels very pain in body and mind. He blames Gump that he should not save him, he would like to die in the battlefield rather than live relays on government relief. After that he abandons himself to vice and lives meaninglessly. He drinks wine everyday, gives up himself and refuses the salvation of God. At that time he stands against with God.He gradually tries to believe in God when shrimping. When Forrest Gump sees him again, Forrest Gump moves him with his actions. He joins Gump in shrimping, he is touched by Forrest Gumps loyalty and changes himself, and Forrest Gump becomes his savior. In the beginning, they harvest nothing, so Lieutenant Dan suggests that maybe they should go to pray in church. From then on, Forrest Gump often goes to church to pray, sometimes Lieutenant Dan goes with Forrest Gump though he is just drinking in the back row. However, from these things people can see his attitude towards God has changed. At that time, he is gradually trying to believe in God.He makes peace with God after the storm. In a storm, other boats are all broken. Luckily, their boat survives from this big storm and their business booms. He helps Forrest Gump build the Bubba Gump shrimp company which is published in the famous Fortune magazine. Form then on, Dan has a new understanding since he gets the care of God. Dan begins to come out from the old day and enjoys the gift given by God. His absolutely attitude change towards God happens in the ship when he jumps into water and swims in the water freely which is just like the ceremony that the believers of religion jump into water for baptism. In Forrest Gumps wedding, Dan has prosthetic legs to stand up by himself and has an Asian fianc. From that the readers can see that he has been walked out of the scare of war and can accept a new self. At that time, he has been believed in God. Reflection of Popular Culture in Forrest GumpFrom 1940th to 1980th is the most turbulent age in the American history. In that time, the turning of the political presidents, the political assassination and the White House scandal happen constantly. The popular culture movement occurs in the 1960th and 1970th. It includes the anti-war movement, anti-racial movement and hippies movement. The body of this movement is called “the beat generation”. In the novel, Jenny is a representative of this movement. She represents all the rebellious spirit of the age: drugs, wander, promiscuity and parades.3.1 Wide Spread of Anti-war SpiritMartin Luther King Jr argues: “If Americas soul became totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read Vietnam” (Datesman, 2006: 64). The Vietnam War has played an important role in American history and has left a scare on peoples hearts. The presenting effect has been made in politics, policies, and ideology. The anti-war spirit can be reflected in several aspects including rock music and movie. Rock music as the core of youth culture witnesses the growth of a generation totally different from their parents. It plays a significant role in the anti-war movement and a platform of expression. In the novel, there is a plot that a young musician rents in Forrest Gumps home and learns the hip twist movement from Forrests disease leg. Then Forrest Gump sees him in the TV who is just Elvis Presley, the king of rock music. He opens the river of popular music and the hip twist movement is his facia action; movies as a potent tool to convey messages have been used by many conscious directors to show their remorse and reflection of Vietnam War.Professional army is an expression of the Vietnam War. In the novel, Lieutenant Dan comes from an army family. His ancestors die in the battlefields of Independent War, Civil War, World War and World War. He thinks it is an honor to die in the war. When he is wounded in the Vietnam War, he thinks it is shameful not to die in the war. The he gives up himself and drinks everyday; he thinks his life is meaningless and he is abandoned by God. From these we can see it is difficult to turn from war to peaceful life and turn their value concept. It reflects the nightmare war from the point of sacrifice.The anti-war rally is to end violence in Vietnam War. When Forrest Gump returns from the Vietnam War and is rewarded the honor of hero by the president. He sees a group of people holding the anti-war rally and is invited to say something about the Vietnam War. We could see peoples eagerness for peace.3.2 Prosperity of Hippies MovementThe Hippies Movement is flourished from 1960 to 1970 when the people dont follow the teaching of their elders and reject them for an alternative culture which is their own. The Hippies movement which is boomed in San Francis, California and spreads across the United State, through Canada, and then into some areas of Europe. But it has its greatest influence in America. On the one hand, they listen to folk music, wear strange clothes or even no clothes at all, drink beer or smoke plot and make love together. One of the obvious symbols of the Hippies movement is the immoderate use of illegal drugs including LSD which is thought something that can makes you touch with your surroundings. However, sometimes when people take the bad LSD, they would do anything they like to do and never come back again. On the other hand, hippies easygoing attitudes and gaming lifestyles are put away when the topic of politics comes up. Politics plays a significant position in the incitement for their existence. Having the strongest feeling towards Vietnam War, hippies make their belief known to the world. They do this with a lot of actions such as musical shows, rock songs and peaceful sit-ins. But none of these action arouses attention expect their protests and rallies. The hippies are aware that it is the war that makes thousands of soldiers are dying. They want their troops to come back home and to end the wars that the United States are involved. As the years of the Vietnam War, hundreds of anti-war rallies are held.In the novel, Jenny is a typical tragedy of this movement. She is a beautiful and nave girl who has enthusiasm to realize her dream. She is full of confident and hopes to become an actress. In her way to achieve success she goes wrong, she joins the hippies. She led a recluse live as other hippies do. When Forrest Gump first meets Jenny when he comes back from the Vietnam War, what she wears is the typical hippies stylewears her hair long, the long coat and the strange decorations. At that time her boyfriend Wesley is the local committee president of Berkeley where is just the origin of the counter-culture. Whats more, illusion has become a necessary need for hippies spirit; drugs at that time have become a weapon for confrontation. For those young people who are suppressed and felt depressed by the current situation, drug brings spiritual journey for the feelings and hallucination, which is surely a great temptation to them. In Forrest Gump, at the lead of her boyfriend, Jenny takes t