In the book “Forrest Gump”, by Winston Groom, Gump and lt. Dan face down the hurricane Carmen on their shrimping boat. Dan, as his fathers and grandfathers before him had, planned to die as he fought for the United States. Instead, Forrest Gump saved Dan from death, although Dan lost both legs. When they returned home, Dan acted immensely depressed and devastated, losing his will to continue on. Gump then takes Dan on his shrimping boat, chatting about their belief in god, when a hurricane arrived. Intense wind and rain came close to sinking the boat. Dan, who had wanted to perish originally, acted mad. He yelled at at God and dared him to take him, and experienced the full thrill of coming close to death. This event seems to change Dan. He thanked Gump for saving his life, fell into the water, and stares into the heavens. He, according to Gump, makes his peace with God.
The storm reflects the harsh process of rebirth and renewal. Dan had his expectations of his mortality, but they were taken from him. He became incredibly out of tune with the nature of his existence. The storm gave him the opportunity once again to test existence, discovers a new purpose in life, and makes peace with God. The harsh storm reflects the just as major change in him.
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