Jenny to die? Almost everybody else close to Forrest ended up dying. I don't see what further purpose this adds to a great story.
shareThe film is about loss, so yes.
Also, Jenny was on a path of self-destruction from the start.
My thoughts on this is that the movie is about the destiny of both Forrest and Jenny. Jenny unfortunatley did bad unhealthy things that lead to her dying of a disease. Had she lived the kind of lifestyle Forrest did, she might not have died. The movie is making a point about that. Also, you should read the book by Winston Groom if you don't like that Jenny and his mom died. Though it isn't as well written as the movie and is actually more comedic and silly in tone compared to the movie.
shareHad she lived the kind of lifestyle Forrest did, she might not have died. The movie is making a point about that.
the film was about forrest living through most important events throughout american history. jenny died of aids. this was major event in america towards the end of when the film took place. jenny seems to take on a lot of cultural references from her lifetime.
share"Jenny to die? Almost everybody else close to Forrest ended up dying. I don't see what further purpose this adds to a great story"
Illustrating that Forrest is in the cycle of life, just like all of us. As the decades go by, people around us either fall away or die
It added emotional weight to the film but I guess in terms of the story it shows how Forrest keeps persevering in life in spite of all that life throws at him. He keeps going like a feather in the breeze.
shareI love this answer. But it seems as if it is not as hard for Forrest as a regular individual. His ability to brush off such tragedies is commendable, but that may be enhanced by his mental deficiency. I'm absolutely not putting Forrest down in any way. But for the "average" person with...how should I say...sharper mental acuities, it would take a toll even to the point of depression. But Forrest's deficiency is actually a gift in some regards. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us are not as blessed in that sense.
shareYou could certainly say that he has been blessed with what he has experienced in life and what he has achieved, his abilities for running and playing ping pong. He is simple minded and slow and maybe this does prevent him from suffering the harsher mental consequences of personal tragedies. But he still clearly showed he was upset at the loss of Jenny, who meant the world to him. The scene where he is crying at her grave could be to emphasise how he isn't so easily able to shrug things like this off, as we hadn't seen Forrest that emotional before. Nonetheless he carries on now as a father bringing up his kid, without a partner. It's another circumstance in which we look at Forrest and are meant to admire where he's got to in life and also comes full circle in imitating he and his mother, as a single parent family where he can now impart his wisdom onto his son, just as she had done with him.
shareThere are already great answers to your interesting question. I will add mine, which is close to what others have already said.
I don't think 'necessary' is the right word to describe the director's choice to kill Jenny. Each story can have multiple endings, but this decision does provide closure for the character of Forrest Gump. Jenny's death leaves Forrest alone, forcing him to give up his adventures, settle down, take responsibility, and raise a child on his own.
From Jenny's perspective, her tragic death seems almost unavoidable. Jenny was sexually assaulted for a long time as a child by her father. Many girls in distress in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s that experienced traumatic pasts that led them to adopt lifestyles centered around escaping from reality, proving to be destructive for them. This manifested in the form of the "hippie culture," embracing counterculture of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Ultimately, the idealized notion of the "love and peace" culture shattered for Jenny, and in this harsh reality, she faced further experiences of sexual assault and violence from those closest to her. Although she managed to break free from the cycle of violence, her past persisted as a haunting force. Tragically, she contracted AIDS, marking a painful end to her journey.
BTW, why don't you tell us, what is the better ending in your opinion?
I would have liked to see a kind of redemption. How Jenny seemed elusive in a way to Forrest throughout his life, and then the revelation toward the end with him reading the letter and her being close by; that was a shock factor. And then revealing that she had his kid; another shock. One that I would have liked to have seen it end on. So we have that twist to finish on, that would have sufficed for me, considering all the loss that he's been through already. Why compound it even more?
So now he's forced to raise a kid with Jenny. The biggest challenge of his life. The end.
I just thought having her die was unnecessary at this point.
Jenny has experienced a form of redemption, hasn't she? Maybe not in the way you might have preferred, but she did undergo a transformation in the way she confronted her traumatic past. As her physical journey neared its end, we could discern a sense of acceptance and calmness on her face. She was no longer enslaved by painful memories, the people from her past, and her self-destructive tendencies. Prior to her passing, she took steps to ensure that little Forrest would have a loving home. Moreover, the way she interacted with Forrest before her death played a significant role in helping him better cope with the impending loss. Jenny underwent spiritual redemption before leaving the physical world. In a movie where god play a significant role, this is count for something.
Although I understand completely your argument logic that go something like this "we've already witnessed some surprises in the relationship between Jenny and Forrest, so why end with another one and such a cruel one?" But I can't envision better ending for this movie.
In summary, I favor the original ending for two primary reasons:
(1) it adds a layer of sophistication and interest to the film in my eyes, providing a conclusion that is neither a "live happily ever after" nor a completely sad ending;
(2) In my opinion, the ending fits the journey the characters went through, especially Jenny.
Jenny has experienced a form of redemption, hasn't she?
Well it was either die or inevitably leave forest for another Chad.
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