Rain Man: Analysis of the Movie
Raymond's talent lies in his ability to calculate mathematical equationsvery quickly and accurately in his head, but he has few people skills andis very uncomfortable in new environments (Vogel, 1998). The story unfoldsas the tale of the journey the two brother's share, and the path ofdiscovery they embark on together as they get to know each other. Raymondteaches Charley how he can just accept people as they are, and that thereare certain things in life you simply can't change.Charley eventually returns Raymond to the institution realizing he needsgreater personal care that Charley will be able to give him during hislife, but is enriched by the experience of getting to know his brother andthe viewer is left with the impression that the two have created a longRaymond is viewed by others as he is... a savant capable of incredible tasksbut also as an outcast, someone who doesn't know how to engage in normalconversations or social interactions with others. People are ordinarilyuncomfortable around someone with autism or any other type of mentaldisorder. They are unsure of how to act and how to react to the
His actions are very introvertedand he demonstrates extreme discomfort when put into situations that causehim stress, acting out behaviorally. His quest for sameness is evidenced by the fact that he won't flyon any airline other than the one he always does. Raymond does have a specific type of autism, characterized as Kranner'ssyndrome. His physical mannerisms and appearance aresimilar to what are traditionally associated with autism. Raymond couldn't possibly enjoy all of the leisureactivities an ordinary person could because his life revolves around asense of safety and security. He doesn't have an awareness of how hisbehavior might impact others. This in and of itself would limit his potential for entertainment andleisure. Thus he istense and speaks in a monotone, perhaps his way of finding comfort in aconfusing world. Charley is able to enjoy Vegas and the prospectof money, and is ecstatic when Raymond wins $90,000 for him. Thus, it is hard to say whether or not his actions and behaviorsare similar to those of all autistic individuals. Take Charley for a moment andcompare him with Raymond. However Raymond has noability to understand this concept, for him winning money means nothing anddoesn't affect his day to day existence or perception of the world aroundhim. He has a mathematicalcounting ability that exceeds that of the ordinary person, thus making himextraordinary in some ways. It would be hard to measure this however without actuallypenetrating the mind of an autistic person. Leisure activities require that an individual have the ability to relax andtake in his/her surroundings.
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,
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pearson 2000,
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Acceptance Essays
