The book Forrest Gump and its adaptation show a clear difference in terms of its way of developing the relationship between its characters and episodes. By going over some major differences, I would like to comment on whether the adaptation succeeds in its role of retelling the story.
First, in terms of the plot, the film succeeds in trimming some episodes better left out. The book loses its compactness and sense of reality beginning with Forrest’s joining NASA and living four years with cannibals. The description of the space exploration was clumsy at best and these episodes brought an abrupt and awkward halt to the development of Jenny and Forrest’s relationship. By deleting these episodes, including running for the US Senate, the film manages to hold a more coherent plot.
However, there are some that could have been included to add taste to the film, such as harmonica playing. It is through harmonica that Forrest first meets Bubba and throughout the book, the harmonica plays an important role. It not only serves as a bond between Bubba and Forrest but as a bridge between Jenny and him as well. Although the harmonica seems insignificant, it effectively conveys the strong bonds between the characters as Forrest plays harmonica when Bubba dies and Jenny recognizes him by it. Therefore, by adding this little theme to the film, it could have been made more effective.
Second, I’d like to focus on how the book and the film develop the relationship between Forrest and some other characters. Taking Dan as an example, the film does a better job in giving a better sense of Dan’s personality and his interaction with Forrest. In the film, Dan is a unique, distinct character who sees himself destined to die like a gallant warrior; in a sense, he is a dreamer. Therefore, he blames Forrest for foiling his near-success plan by saving him in the battlefield. At first, he cannot cope with his life confined to a wheelchair, but as he begins shrimp business with Forrest, he finds new happiness and hope in life. His appearing at Forrest’s wedding with artificial legs and a whole new life clearly shows the influence he received from and gave to Forrest. In the book, however, it is only as a hospital buddy that Forrest meets Dan. Their relationship is brought to a temporary halt as Forrest encounters numerous other adventures. Although Forrest says Dan’s philosophy had a great impact on himself, it is not evidenced through episodes. Their bond seems weaker than that in the movie, and what would become of Dan’s life remains ambiguous.
Jenny is a character whom the film succeeds in endowing more multifaceted personalities to a rather flat one. Interestingly, in the film, Jenny’s genuine love for Forrest is disputable since Jenny constantly leaves Forrest to pursue her own life and only returns to him after many vicissitudes. Even then, however, she leaves him again and finds him after years with Forrest’s child. Although she then asks him to marry her, her sincerity is debatable because her reason for marrying seems to be more for the son who would be left an orphan when she dies of disease. In the book, her love is clear. Although she leaves Forrest, her reason for abandoning him is justifiable since she could not tolerate his continuing with the wrestling career. Were it not for Forrest’s insistence, Jenny would have been more than happy to live peacefully and stably with Forrest, which she says herself. Jenny in the film certainly leads a more troubled life, but it is what gives more taste to the character.
Lastly, the successful theme that is introduced in the movie is running. Running is an important hobby that appears in the film, which doesn’t play a significant role in the book. The producer did well on this part since running helps characterize Forrest. Forrest, because he is simple, indulges in things he likes without questioning or hesitating, which is perhaps why he manages to achieve so many laudable feats. Running, out of all sports, is the simplest and the most intuitive, yet requires an extreme degree of patience and resilience. You just have to keep on running without doubting whether there is an end or not. Forrest’s running, therefore, seems consistent with his personality and is best expressed when he runs a long way until he is tired after Jenny leaves him. It’s an outlet for himself who isn’t sophisticated enough to take much interest in other sports. However, in the book, Forrest doesn’t run but just devotes himself into the shrimp business when he hears the news that Jenny had got married to another man, which is less effective in showing his troubled mind and grief. 
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