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[Discussion] Jenny baby-trapped Forrest Gump

posted 5 years ago by TMC-4 (19447)
12 replies | jump to latest

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/d2ei8w/discussion_jenny_babytrapped_forrest_gump/

My best guess is that Jenny got pregnant in 1975 from one of her many lovers. After discovering she is pregnant she goes to the doctor and finds out she is sick. The sudden shock of being pregnant and now (possibly terminally) ill, she knows she has to get clean and do something for her kid because no way in hell was her kid going to end up like her. So she has the child, sleeps with Forrest, waits an appropriate amount of time, and then reaches out for help. Knowing that Forrest won’t question the legitimacy of a child and relying on his heart of gold, she plays it perfectly. She can die peacefully knowing her son will be taken care of.

In the end it works out best. Jenny dies happy knowing she was loved and her child will be cared for. Forrest gets Jenny and the family and normalcy he always wanted. The kid gets a good home. I don't think this has any affect on my enjoyment of the movie and I actually think it adds a layer to a rewatch. But I felt like this needed to be pointed out.

[–] strntz (10891) 5 years ago

That's lunacy.

The writer and director clearly identified Forrest as the father.

[–] TandyMan (10397) 5 years ago

My mates and I discussed this back when the movie came out. It's very suspect, knowing Jenny, that the kid is actually his. Definitely doesn't effect my enjoyment.

[–] HelpMeRhonda (1155) 5 years ago

Nice theory but I don’t think it matches with the tone of the movie, unless it was played for laughs. The movie’s humor does stem from Gump’s impairment and earnestness.

[–] TandyMan (10397) 5 years ago

It was never my impression that the kid wasn't his. The fact that he comes across as a little special hammers this home, and Gump's attachment to the kid. I acknowledge the theory as sound, but personally, I don't believe it. I think Jenny's acknowledgement was her last honest act on Earth to atone for her sins.

[–] Mydarkstar (108) 5 years ago

I think your theory is very legit. But still, I do believe the kid is his. However, I do believe that she did baby-trap him. I believe she found out she was sick, and then ran to Forrest as her only hope of getting a kid who would be taken care of. I think it was out of pure greed that she wanted to be a mother. She knew she had no other way of doing it - and she obviously knew Forrest would take care of the kid forever.

[–] MoviesSuck (964) 4 years ago

The film clearly wants us to believe that the kid belongs to Forrest. There’s zero reason to believe otherwise. See the Burt and Ernie scene for all the evidence you need.

[–] strntz (10891) 4 years ago

The writer and director wrote those nice little scenes to clarify without doubt to viewers with half a brain that Forrest was the father of little Forrest, but today's viewers needed to see Forrest and Jenny on Maury, and they still wouldn't believe a DNA test anyway..

Sad.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I always doubted that the kid was Forrest's. She treats the guy like shit throughout the film and when she feels stuck she comes back to him, has sex with him and makes him believe she loves him.

Now given his retardation you could say that she rapes him, does he know what is happening and that it could result in a child? Does he know that she is a bitch and will leave him again? It all adds up.

There is so much darkness to this film which the viewer is meant to see as light and fluffy nostalgia and fun.

And if you are laughing at my rape suggestion, what would be your opinion if Forrest was a female and a guy did the same thing to her?

[–] abigolcwock (517) 4 years ago

Even if that is true, it doesn't matter as Forrest is happy with her and their son

[–] yodavid (67) 4 years ago

it took me years to consider the possibility that lil forrest isn't actually forrest's son.

i wouldn't go for timeline based arguments, as i don't think they are even necessary. i think the movie actually wants us to leave that possibility open, and i have several reasons for that.

forrest is a family man, he's trying the whole film to make a family with jenny, but she's not at all into it. It is when she's left with a child and gets sick that she looks for forrest.