Whats Eating Gilbert Grape: the journey of a hero and the challenges that face him
"What's Eating Gilbert Grape," is an outstanding film in both contentand character. The film expresses themes and ideas on many levels andpoignantly expresses the journey of a hero and the challenges that facehim. The three levels of conflict within the film are societal, familialand individual. Gilbert transverses all three levels, learning from each,that which holds the most value and that which he believes he should leavebehind, in order to grow into an individual who remembers his own needs,while still taking care of everyone else. Character entrances are significant as the first frame begins thejourney of Arnie, a consummate child, delayed and needy, and about to turnthe pivotal age of eighteen. Gilbert is Arnie's main caretaker and theonly person in his life to this point who understands and can communicatewith him. Each member of Gilbert's family must take on a role of one ofthe absent parents, both of whom have to a large degree disappeared asproviders. Amy, Gilbert's oldest sister is the mother figure and entersthe film cooking a meal in dowdy attire. Ellen who is fifteen and likelyto be the next Grape to get away, the way the oldest brother Larry did.
He can remain steadyin his convictions to not shop at the big corporate grocery store and tocontinue to work and help support and maintain his family even though hecould be and do so much more. Something new being built, or at least transplantedinto Endora is hopefully a new beginning. His hero's journey has not ended there though and hefinds himself on the edge of town, just past the "Leaving Endora, Come backSoon" sign he hesitates and then must return. Gilbert is having an affair with a marriedwomen and she and her life represent the kind of boring and loveless lifethat may have been the demise of his own family. He must risk loosing everything, as he is about to say goodbye tothe traveler Becky. Gilbert can conceive of his own life, now without theburden of the old home poorly built by his father, without his disabledmother and with Arnie not as a burden but as the miracle he can be when allis right with the world. His mother meets Becky after much resistance and they seemto find each other as close to soul tied as they could possibly be. Becky helps Gilbert see who he should be by forcing him to discoverwhat he wants for himself rather than simply for everyone else. Gilbert goes from the everpatient protector with subtle resentments played through allowing childrento peek at his mother through the window to a frustrated and expressivetyrant as he loses his ability to cope and lashes out at the world, bytrying to disappear. Carver (Betty) makesit clear to Gilbert that he is a hero but her idea of a hero is the kind ofman who will never leave. He must make peace with his mother and find his place in society,in or outside of Endora. He is challenged bythe weight of his responsibilities and walking through his life as if he isasleep, or worse as if he has disappeared, the greatest fear of his family. He is a member ofa family, which is considered freakish, because of Arnie's odd thoughenduring behavior, his father's suicide and also his mothers griefreflected through her disabling obesity.
Common topics in this essay:
Arnie Gilbert,
Gilbert Giolbert,
Becky Gilbert,
Gilbert Grape,
Becky Becky,
Endora Soon,
Grape Larry,
Carver Betty,
Arnie Becky,
Gilbert Arnie,
gilbert stuck,
peace mother,
life burden,
arnie burden,
change gilbert,
gilbert's mother,
meets becky,
pivotal moment,
arnie gilbert,
characters becky,
|
Acceptance Essays
