Gilbert Grape Analysis: Family Dynamics
Gilbert Grape Analysis: Hardship and Triumph
Natalie Ckuj
FCNS 284; Summer 2014
Gilbert Grape Analysis: Hardship & Triumph
Abstract
The film, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape revolves around a single-parent household and four children. The narration is from Gilbert’s perspective, the third eldest brother of five, and his transition into adulthood as well as figuring out his life goals. Due to psychological stress on the children’s mother and financial hardship, the children have more responsibility than most children their age, and this responsibility interferes with their goals for the future (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?). The content areas of focus are, Gilbert’s quest to find his purpose in life, as well as a healthy romantic relationship, the parental role of the Grape children, and the quality of the Grape home environment, including their socioeconomic level, and familial dynamics.
Gilbert’s quest to find his purpose in life and healthy romantic relationship
Gilbert, a caretaker, grocery store clerk, and deemed responsible for the Grape family home repairs, is a lost young man. He was given a large task of taking care of his mentally challenged brother, Arnie, and mother at times, and barely had time to think about his own life goals (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?). Gilbert often seems to not have any passion and suffered witnessing his mother and brother suffer from “individual discrimination” (Seccombe, 2012), which is described as one giving poor treatment to someone else based on their individual differences, be it physical, ethnic, or belief differences. Because Gilbert’s mother was severely obese, many children and adults of the town looked at her with amusement. Arnie was also viewed in a disrespectful way by people of the town. He would climb up the water tower ladder many times, and many townspeople either laughed at him or clapped as he came down, instead of showing concern for his safety (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?). Gilbert
Natalie Ckuj
FCNS 284; Summer 2014
Gilbert Grape Analysis: Hardship & Triumph
Abstract
The film, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape revolves around a single-parent household and four children. The narration is from Gilbert’s perspective, the third eldest brother of five, and his transition into adulthood as well as figuring out his life goals. Due to psychological stress on the children’s mother and financial hardship, the children have more responsibility than most children their age, and this responsibility interferes with their goals for the future (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?). The content areas of focus are, Gilbert’s quest to find his purpose in life, as well as a healthy romantic relationship, the parental role of the Grape children, and the quality of the Grape home environment, including their socioeconomic level, and familial dynamics.
Gilbert’s quest to find his purpose in life and healthy romantic relationship
Gilbert, a caretaker, grocery store clerk, and deemed responsible for the Grape family home repairs, is a lost young man. He was given a large task of taking care of his mentally challenged brother, Arnie, and mother at times, and barely had time to think about his own life goals (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?). Gilbert often seems to not have any passion and suffered witnessing his mother and brother suffer from “individual discrimination” (Seccombe, 2012), which is described as one giving poor treatment to someone else based on their individual differences, be it physical, ethnic, or belief differences. Because Gilbert’s mother was severely obese, many children and adults of the town looked at her with amusement. Arnie was also viewed in a disrespectful way by people of the town. He would climb up the water tower ladder many times, and many townspeople either laughed at him or clapped as he came down, instead of showing concern for his safety (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?). Gilbert
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