That he's disciplined, focused, independent minded, inquisitive, intelligent, persistent, personable and wily are the traits that the character Jamal Wallace shows in the movie 'Finding Forrester'. He shows his discipline and intelligence by excelling athletically and academically. He shows his focus and wilyness by making himself a contender for excellent educational offerings and for individualized instruction. He shows his independence and persistence by pursuing a career as a writer despite efforts to make him 'just' an athlete. He shows his inquisitiveness and personableness by getting himself in and out of trouble, and by endearing himself to the pivotal character Forrester.
William Forrester
The main character of the movie Finding Forrester is William Forrester, an old, white male, recluse novelist, makes an unlikely friendship with, and mentors, a black 16-year old who is gifted at basketball, and both literature, and writing Jamal Wallace. William, from Bronx, New York, wrote only one famous novel The Avalon fifty years earlier that won the Pulitzer Prize. Because he was offended at the bad reviews, and the deaths of his parents and brother sent him into a long depression and decided to isolate himself from the public and was never heard from again. A series of events and the development of a friendship with Jamal, would give William a new perspective on life. In the movie, William would have never been capable of confronting his fears or reconnecting with the world if not for his friendship with Jamal.
A friendship with Jamal Wallace led to many factors that brought a change in William Forrester. For William, this friendship was a catalyst to the other factors that played a major part in his growth. Having someone to talk to, realizing he could trust someone, the importance of friendship, seeing life in a new perspective and standing