The image towards the end of the classic American film Forrest Gump represents Forrest’s transition to the afterlife: it shows the backs of Forrest and his lifetime love Jenny, sitting on the dock by the pond in his backyard, looking out into the “eternity” of the water. This image represents heaven with a deceased Forrest finally finding happiness with his angel Jenny, dressed in white. They are depicted together in this heavenly place as a fulfillment of Forrest’s lifelong dream of being together with his Jenny. In the movie, this scene is accompanied by the dialogue “it was the happiest time of my life.” Ironically, it is actually his afterlife in heaven where he is the happiest. At the beginning of the classic American film Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump restates the saying his momma always taught him throughout his childhood: that life is like “a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get.” Through personal experiences, Gump learns this lesson by understanding that life does not always go as expected. Furthermore, Gump comes to a realization that he may never know what he is “gonna get” as his life twists and turns in many unexpected directions. It turns out that the final chocolate in his box was the sweetest; time without end with Jenny. This idyllic picture of Forrest and Jenny cuddled by the pond in his yard looking out into the distance shows the audience a dreamlike image of serenity and subdued nature in order to relay the message that Forrest is finally at peace, reunited in heaven with Jenny, as he looks back over his life with his lifelong love who is now his angel. 

In this iconic picture, the characters and setting in the frame appear tranquil. Both are comfortable in each other's presence, demonstrated by the closeness of their bodies and the affectionate manner in which Jenny is hugging Forrest. They radiate the warmth identified with a sense of “home” as they are shown in the backyard of Gump’s house. The image of Jenny and Forrest is in focus but the expanse of the pond is blurry, signifying a never-ending continuum. The shadows the trees cast on the water give the appearance of a soothing dream-state. The trees are full of leaves, but they are a greenish/brown and do not scream of color.  The water is still and the color is muted; it looks like a blue sky. However, while calm on the surface, underneath the pond is full of sea life. As Jenny and Forrest gaze across the pond into the distance, they are looking back over their own lives. The lack of motion in the picture leaves the viewer with a feeling of warmth and peacefulness, comparable to the sensations that thoughts of heaven generate for many. The scene is serene, as heaven would be.

 Both Forrest and Jenny are wearing the exact same casual outfits that they wore in the school bus when they first met and their body language exhibits love, strength and peace. This detail of their outfits ties Forrest’s childhood into his heavenly existence. His childhood was the time when he met Jenny. Jenny is leaning into Forrest, hugging him in a protective, supportive way as he sits erect and looks straight ahead, remembering his life. Forrest was teased as a child because he wore braces on his legs and had other imperfections but Jenny always stuck by him and looked after him, just as she does in this picture. However, even during his childhood struggles, he never became distraught and always “stood tall”, as displayed in his upright posture in this picture. She is looking at him with a slight smile on her face seemingly relieved that he is free from any disabilities in heaven and she is by his side forever. After a lifetime of struggles, Forrest finally gets to reside at home once again, but this time his home is a tranquil eternity with his darling Jenny.

One symbol for heaven is the color white. It is no surprise then that in Forrest’s afterlife dream, his “angel” is wearing a lovely white dress since she represents the paradise beyond. The afterlife commonly occurs after seeing a flashing “bright white light” and being welcomed by angels wearing the specific color. Jenny has welcomed Forrest to heaven as his angel. Jenny has led a tormented life, experimenting with serious drugs, contemplating suicide, and contracting a disease that was most likely AIDS, even though it was not a recognized diagnosis at the time. Jenny eventually comes “home” to Forrest to die peacefully and now she is depicted in white to represent the shedding of her checkered past and assumption of purity goodness in which Forrest has always perceived her. Jenny’s drug-induced dream of flying becomes a reality as now she can finally fly with Forrest forever by being a guardian angel for her childhood best friend and protecting Forrest in their heaven together. Furthermore, Jenny is wearing a white dress once again as many events from Forrest’s childhood are flashing before his eyes. They live in the white house on the corner in Greenbow, Alabama. The house is the heaven they stay in as the white paint of the house covers the eternal life that both Jenny and Jenny are now experiencing. In Forrest’s heaven, the color white is prevalent as it establishes that Forrest has now moved on from life and has entered his peaceful afterlife.

Forrest learns valuable lessons from his momma and the most important is that life is unpredictable, like picking chocolates from a box, not knowing what is underneath the chocolate shell.  Sometimes you pick the caramel you are hoping for and sometimes you get the nasty chocolate with orange nougat inside. Forrest’s last chocolate he chooses from the full box is the sweet taste of his heaven. His box of chocolates has many different “flavors” of chocolates consisting of all of the dreams that both Forrest and Jenny prayed for when they were kids. After being shot serving for his country in the Vietnam War and going back “home”, Forrest and his guardian angel lay on the dock outside of their house. There, a still pond lies ahead of them with no end in sight. The pond represents the eternal life that Forrest and Jenny will spend in heaven together as both Forrest and Jenny will be living with no horizon. As the pond contains many fish and other sea creatures, the two lifelong friends look down at life itself in the never-ending distance. The two are now physically and mentally above all other forms of life as they now are living in the bliss of eternal heaven. With Forrest and Jenny’s prayers coming true, Forrest gets a taste of each chocolate that is in his box while sharing a “taste” with his guardian angel, his lifelong protector and love.

In this picture, Forrest and Jenny are together in heaven as they both are looking into the waters of “eternity” while being back “home” in heaven. The picture conveys a sense of serenity to the viewer. Throughout the movie, the audience has been taken on the journey of Forrest’s life and has developed an affection for the naïve, innocent, and caring Forrest. As Jenny and Forrest sit together, with Forrest in Jenny’s protective, loving embrace, the viewer is content that Forrest finally gets the happiness he deserves. After suffering through many events in his life with courage and determination, Forrest finally rises up to heaven and joins his lifetime love once again. However, unlike when they were kids, they will now be at peace, free of struggles, and share eternal happiness with each other forever.
