Lieutenant Dan/Soyster Compare Contrast

Lieutenant Dan is a character from Forrest Gump. Serving as Gump’s Lieutenant in Vietnam, he is wounded in an ambush. Gump saves the Lieutenant along with the rest of his company. From his injuries, he loses both of his legs below the thighs. Along with his legs, he lost everything: job, glory, direction in life. One night, he jumps on Forrest and yells in frustration, “Why didn’t you just let me die like I was supposed to?” This bitter anger drives him to give up in life. He lives as a hobo, alone and aimless.
Much like Lieutenant Dan, Soyster expresses the frustration in becoming disabled. He describes it as
Circe’s Spell” and how multiple sclerosis turned him into “something” else (Soyster). The loss of his legs took away his meaning in life which was full of marathons, cycling, and skiing. In parallel to Lieutenant Dan, he sees himself as a useless “cripple” just “waiting” for life to take its due course (Soyster).
However, Lieutenant Dan has a far different ending than Soyster. When the bitter Lieutenant Dan goes to scold Forrest for his heroics, his wheelchair skids on the ice and falls. Unlike Soyster, who lies on the asphalt “waiting” for rescue, Forrest helps him up and takes him home. Through Forrest’s care and friendship toward Lieutenant Dan, he realizes that his life is not yet over. He becomes the Forrest’s first mate on his shrimping boat, and the two of them become millionaires. What is more, Lieutenant Dan finds a new hope in life. In the conclusion of the movie, he is not only engaged, but walks again with prosthetic legs.

Maybe Soyster’s situation is different and Forrest Gump is just a movie. Soyster will never be able to walk again unlike Lieutenant Dan. Nonetheless, the crucial part in the Lieutenant’s recovery was Forrest, a friend who cared enough to show him the goodness in life. If Soyster had that friend, maybe he would be able to find hope in life again. 

Comments

  1. Natalie EighmeyJanuary 28, 2018 at 1:49 PM

    Wonnie!! This was WONDERFUL! I absolutely adored your comparison of Lieutenant Dan to Matthew Soyster. I personally think that they are very similar to each other, with them both being bitter cynics and all. And I agree... maybe all Soyster needs is a friend. Awesome job :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJanuary 28, 2018 at 2:23 PM

    Wow Wonyoung I loved the connection! It was awesome how you applied knowledge from such an iconic movie to our in class discussions. The way you connected Soyster and Lieutenant Dan was incredible and very intriguing.

    ReplyDelete

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