Jenny in Forrest Gump

[marychristmas44]

Spoilers alert

Watching this currently for the millionth time and as much as I understand Jenny was a very troubled character with a horrific childhood, she's bloody mean to Forrest. Constantly dipping in and out of his life, using him and never telling him when she had his child. I never understood that. What kept her from being honest with him that he was a dad? He was a good guy who truly loved her and he had a right to know he had a son. She only got in touch when she was ill and needed help.

I always thought the same. She treated him very badly. Especially as he was a vulnerable adult.

I think she loved him in her own way. It doesn't make the way she treated him ok though

damaged goods

I feel like she loved him as a friend or a brother but never really prioritised him. She only bothered with him when she needed him.

It was unforgivable not to tell him she'd had his son.

She just used him. She was used to using people due to her childhood abuse and then her own drug abuse.

Bpd?

I don't think the son was really his, I think she knew he was the only reliable man in her life.

It's difficult to feel worthy and loved when you've been brought up with horrific abuse. It can be scary.

She thought he was too good for her and as she was damaged she felt she would ruin his life by him loving her.

This was exacerbated by her realising she was HIV+, she was almost ready to be loved by him but she didn’t want to (literally) poison him, when he was so good and so innocent.

Her being mean to him is an act of love. She’s trying to push him away to save him.

I know other abuse survivors in real life who behave this way when a real emotional attachment becomes a possibility.

I feel a lot of sympathy for the character. I also love the film. I have a child with special needs who is very pure in his love, much like Forrest, so I love it more as I am older!

Scared. Scared to commit and stay and really be loved. Hurt and damaged. And therefore a bit shit.

I don’t think the script gives evidence for this. There are comments that young forrest looks like old forrest.

Yeah, I think it was another man's child too, and she knew that Forrest didn't have the brains to question it or insist on a paternity test before agreeing to take on the responsibility of raising him.

@alkinetyh I know there's no evidence, just my opinion.

I think it's quite possible she didn't really know who the dad was!

I don't like her either. Damaged person or not people have gone through worse lives and treated people better. She's there for the plot though.

The character was subjected to sexual abuse by her father, trauma, together with drug abuse, suicidal tendencies, she was always running away, as a result of her childhood. That’s not damaged goods!

I think she probably did love him, sought love and affection from him but it felt wrong because she knew Forrest had some issues too.

Well what about the bit at the end where they are watching TV together and they move the same way? Are the producers just toying with us? 😥

Jenny breaks my heart. I think she’s such a tragic, flawed and complex character.

I also think she is far more realistic than many of the characters in Hollywood films.

Her relationship with Forrest with key to both of them though, and they were very positive in each other’s lives.

I just love how he says But-Tocks. I forgot how many of my turns of phrase I've stolen from this film!