Self exiled, renowned author William Forrester lives a life of solitude and insignificance until he meets Jamal Wallace: a Bronx ridden, self disclosed, closet academic that reinvigorates his beliefs. Initially, in Finding Forrester Jamal Wallace appears to be fortunate when he meets the established writer William Forester; however, he reciprocates the influencing values that appeared to make him so fortunate, which can be clearly identified by the great actions of Jamal Wallace. In witch the great actions are the onset where our beliefs are influenced in a positive format. Because of assumption, enlightenment, and courage, William Forester’s stagnant beliefs progress into a way of life worth living. The general argument made by Gus Van Sant, in his work Finding Forrester, is that our convicted beliefs can only be reinvigorated and refreshed through the great actions of the ones around us. More specifically, Gus Van Sant argues that stereo types create barriers within a relationship. However, breaking society’s convention of typical stereo types creates an unbreakable relationship, where the display of courage forms a catalyst of an epiphany about our beliefs. In other words, our beliefs are stagnant until a catalyst of great action is set before our eyes; thus, changing our beliefs by embracing a new life.
Many individuals’ beliefs are shaped revolving around the stereotypes that exist among them; therefore, it takes the actions of the ones prejudiced to liberate the beliefs of the beholder. For instance, upon the first eye to eye interaction between the two men Jamal hopes to see if he will take a look at more of his writing, but in return received a scolding and a door in the face along with a rhetorical challenge to complete a 5000 word essay. The actions displayed by Forrester during the first eye to eye interaction were all reminiscent of the stereo types of an African American teenage boy. Suggesting that he is incapable of high level of academics and aspirations can only withhold the life on the streets. Forrester’s Interpretation of Jamal inhibits the relationship of the two men, but Forrester’s miscellaneous challenge of the 5000 word essay creates a gateway for Jamal to surpass the barrier placed upon the relationship of Forrester and Jamal. This challenge is thecommencement where Jamal will continually revitalize Forrester’s beliefs by his great actions. On the other hand, Jamal reciprocates stereo types on Forrester creating a barrier on both sides. In view of these barriers, the actions of both Jamal and Forrester will be needed to chisel down each other’s barriers; ergo, liberating their beliefs of narrowness and presenting a refreshed belief. Riddled with rumors about the man in the window, Jamal has subconsciously accepted stereo types about Forrester presuming he is an axe murderer or even maybe a ghost. Forrester will have to break this stereotype through the knowledge he holds as the great American novelist. But in beginning of this relationship, Jamal is the one with everything to gain and everything to lose while Forrester seems impassive in the matter; thus, making it even harder on Jamal to pursue the relationship. With this in mind it seems that Jamal will be forced to break the barriers that both he and Forrester hold. Therefore, Jamal’s actions will only be allowed to take a permanent effect in refreshing Forester’s beliefs when the barriers are broken.
Despite the parallelism of Jamal’s and Forrester’s stereotyped interpretation upon meeting each other, an unbreakable bond is created. But, for this particular bond to be formed the past actions of a soon to be mentor will have to be discovered to reach an epiphany, creating the unbreakable bond. Although recognizing Forester’s knowledge of literature, and with little actual knowledge of the man, Jamal sees him as an introvert. With the unknown story of Forester’s past, Jamal is left to assume the stereotypes about the man that he has picked up from the street. Jamal learns later from his ignorant teacher about Forester’s connection to literature; thus, breaking the stereo type Jamal has placed on Forrester. The knowledge of his new friend being the great American novelist gives Jamal the confidence that Forrester can help him to academia. As Jamal spends more time with Forrester, it strengthens their relationship, ultimately becoming closer to each other. The great American novel displays the writing brilliance of William Forrester, and with William Forrester in his presence, Jamal’s believes that he too can emulate Forester’s work and become a great writer. From another perspective, we see the stereo types Forester has placed on Jamal dissipate due to Jamal’s actions; thus, refreshing Forester’s beliefs on his own life. Forrester first saw Jamal as a punk on the street that would probably amount to nothing; however, this was disproven extremely quickly. As their relationship develops Jamal starts to grow apart from his friends, putting what mattered to him first; writing. Despite society’s expectation of Jamal being the basketball man, Jamal wishes to be seen as academic; therefore Jamal misses two free throws in the championship game. Jamal does not miss these shots by lack of ability, but misses with the intentions to showcase that all his strengths are not represented on a court. From these actions Forrester witnesses Jamal’s true aspirations for life, which in return sparks a progressing enlightenment in Forrester where he questions his own life and what his aspirations are for his final years. The enlightenment of Jamal and Forrester forecast the impact they have on each other’s life, enviably bringing them closer.
Sometimes a change in beliefs needs to be caused by more than just the simple actions of another. Sometimes it needs the indisputable courage of one, to truly change the beliefs of another. The cynicism of Jamal’s teacher towards Jamal’s ability as a writer has been brought up throughout the film, and when the school writing contest approaches, Jamal wants to ensure that his work is masterful to prove his ability as a writer. Jamal has complete confidence that his writing in Forrester’s apartment will exhibit Jamal’s ability as a writer. He breaks one of Forrester’s rules by taking one of his pieces from Foresters apartment. The courage Jamal displays in his actions tell that Jamal is willing to risk the relationship of the man that has brought him to a level of academic brilliance; therefore, illustrating that he is willing to risk it all. The courage indicates Jamal’s true dedication to writing, and it sparks another epiphany in Forrester giving him the ability to break his beliefs of leaving his apartment. As a result of Jamal’s plan backfiring, Forrester is forced out of his apartment to save the credibility of Jamal. As a guest of honor, Forrester is given the opportunity to present a piece of writing. Forrester presumes credit for the words, but at the end of writing he announces that the words belonged to Jamal and because of that, he receives applause from the audience. Forrester’s courage shown through overcoming the constraints he placed on himself to give credibility to Jamal, gives Jamal the realization that he too is capable of writing as great as Forester’s. As Forrester and Jamal both break from their original stereo types and constraints, they make the full transformation of beliefs.
Gus Van Sant uses the metamorphosis of Forrester’s and Jamal’s beliefs to demonstrate that one’s convicted beliefs can be transformed; however, one cannot do this alone, it takes the great actions of others to complete this transformation. Immediately upon meeting Jamal face to face, Forrester shuns him with a rhetorical challenge of a 5000 word essay. But, Jamal proves Forester wrong by completing the essay; thus, breaking the first barrier Forrester has placed on the relationship, granting Jamal passage into Forrester’s world. As a result of Jamal’s actions and through the medium of literature, Forester and Jamal see each other without the stereo types originally placed on each other, thus allowing Jamal and Forester to truly see the meaning of the actions of one another, and allowing them to refresh their stagnant beliefs. In conclusion, the transformation of Forrester’s beliefs are evoked by Jamal’s courage; thus pushing Forrester into an epiphany rejuvenating his beliefs. Through Finding Forrester Gus Van Sant’s exemplifies, themetamorphosis of beliefs is only possible through the great actions of those around us.
