Symbolism In What's Eating Gilbert Grape

“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” is nothing close to a bright and lively movie. It isn’t too uplifting, there is no warm, fuzzy feeling you receive. This movie is quite prosperous in symbolism, however, from a mile away it seems simple. It comes off as such a plain movie for those who do not take the time to understand it. With everything that pours into this movie, the only mundane thing about this movie is the town. You’ll get to see Gilbert Grape wallow in misery, discord, and at times -- yearning. You’ll see Gilbert emotionally destroyed by the unfortunate, deplorable life he was born into. There are a countless amount of things that Gilbert Grape has had to conform to daily; he is the unwilling father-figure, and brings the bread to the table, he is raising his younger siblings, taking care of his own mother, and abandoned by his father. There are many things that are constantly gnawing at Gilbert Grape.

Gilbert Grape was thrown into adulthood at an early age when his father committed suicide. This tragedy also spiralled his mother into a eating
It was a couple of weeks before Arnie’s 19th birthday, the boy had defeated the odds again and lived one more year. Last year Becky came and left, and she was coming again this year. Arnie used to be so excited to see the campers, all of the new people driving into town. This year, all he was excited for was Becky. The year before shifted the wind of Gilbert’s life. He was blown towards Becky and she offered freedom, happiness, and reason. Gilbert’s life was built on uncountable negative things, his desire to leave was fuel on the bitterness of his dead father and the burden of taking care of everything and everyone in some form or fashion. Becky was the first positive thing that he realized was his and she became the perfect reason to leave, so he did. He put Arnie on his back, and left. She was everything he’s never had the chance to hold onto and that was everything he