Lt. Dan | Main Character
Lt. Dan is a main character to Forrest Gump’s story and is a good friend of his. We are first introduced to Lt. Dan as Forrest and Bubba land in Vietnam. Lt. Dan is immediately seen as a really relaxed, calm and quite laid back character for being in a war. His appearance gives of the idea that he is quite care-free, short ruffled hair and shirtless due to the heat. Throughout the movie Lt. Dan’s feelings change quite a bit. He loses his legs in the war and soon becomes distant and aloof to his social life. This continues until he meets up with Forrest later after Forrest has been interviewed. He hasn’t really changed much since he left the hospital and still seems distant, sarcastic and pessimistic about life. He starts to dress as though he doesn’t really care letting his hair grow out and left unkempt, letting his facial hear grow out and not really caring too much about his appearance. Towards the end he becomes happier again seeming to find new reasons to live, these reasons being his new legs, fiancé and his love for the open water. He has now gone back to a neater version of himself, wearing a nice suit, keeping his hair neat a proper and a clean shaved face. Altogether Lt. Dan can be seen as a relaxed, sarcastic and laid back character despite his previous depression. "I never thanked you for saving my life." - Lt. Dan |
"Lieutenant Daniel Taylor: What's wrong with your lip? |
Character Growth
Lieutenant Dan Taylor is a main character and good friend of Forrest Gump. Lt. Dan is first introduced to us when Forrest first arrives in Vietnam. Immediately Lt. Dan is seen to be very relaxed and sarcastic for somebody fighting a war in a foreign country.
Lt. Dan leads his group through Vietnam and through the 4 months of rain until later in their search for ‘Charlie’ they are attacked by the enemies, he acts bravely and tells Forrest to run as well as signalling for backup.
Under all the hellfire Forrest comes back for Lt. Dan against his wishes (wanting to live up to his family history of dying as soldiers in all past wars) and saves him. Lt. Dan is obviously upset and protesting as Gump tries to carry him to safety.
He ends up losing both of his legs making him a cripple. Ever since arriving at the hospital he had started acting aloof and unsociable. One night he pulls Gump off his bed and angrily spouts his unhappiness with the way he is now, saying its Gump’s fault.
After Gump’s Interview Dan is reunited and shows him his now sad, drunken life. Dan is now directly shown to be sad, broken and malcontent with current life as an ex-soldier and cripple.
Later on Lt. Dan visits Gump to become his first mate for the ‘BubbaGump’ Shrimping business. During one of their shrimping trips they face a large storm and rather than Lt. Dan cowering away he seems to fight the storm head on representing his internal storm, gloominess and inner turmoil. After the storm when everything is calm Lt. Dan seems to have be lifted out of his previous gloominess and finds something to live for, he becomes happier and although not thanking Gump directly he hints that he’s grateful for his life.
At the end of the movie Lt. Dan gets new legs and is getting married, now content with his life and thankful to Gump, Lt. Dan is overall a very laid back and sarcastic character exploring how life has its up’s and downs.
Lt. Dan leads his group through Vietnam and through the 4 months of rain until later in their search for ‘Charlie’ they are attacked by the enemies, he acts bravely and tells Forrest to run as well as signalling for backup.
Under all the hellfire Forrest comes back for Lt. Dan against his wishes (wanting to live up to his family history of dying as soldiers in all past wars) and saves him. Lt. Dan is obviously upset and protesting as Gump tries to carry him to safety.
He ends up losing both of his legs making him a cripple. Ever since arriving at the hospital he had started acting aloof and unsociable. One night he pulls Gump off his bed and angrily spouts his unhappiness with the way he is now, saying its Gump’s fault.
After Gump’s Interview Dan is reunited and shows him his now sad, drunken life. Dan is now directly shown to be sad, broken and malcontent with current life as an ex-soldier and cripple.
Later on Lt. Dan visits Gump to become his first mate for the ‘BubbaGump’ Shrimping business. During one of their shrimping trips they face a large storm and rather than Lt. Dan cowering away he seems to fight the storm head on representing his internal storm, gloominess and inner turmoil. After the storm when everything is calm Lt. Dan seems to have be lifted out of his previous gloominess and finds something to live for, he becomes happier and although not thanking Gump directly he hints that he’s grateful for his life.
At the end of the movie Lt. Dan gets new legs and is getting married, now content with his life and thankful to Gump, Lt. Dan is overall a very laid back and sarcastic character exploring how life has its up’s and downs.