“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”?

After watching the movie “What’s eating Gilbert Grape”? brought my attention to Erik Erikson’s fifth developmental stage Identity versus Identity confusion. Erikson emphasized that, during adolescence years, individual’s face finding out who they are, what they are all about, and where they are going in life- Identity versus identity confusion. If adolescents explore roles in a healthy manner and arrive at a positive path to follow in life, then they achieve a positive identity; if not, then identity confusion reigns. I would have to agree with Erickson’s Theory. This developmental stage explains Gilbert Grape’s identity crisis that he’s going through in the movie.
What’s eating Gilbert is laid out for us, like a feast. Even from the title suggests we should consider not only what’s eating Gilbert, but what’s eating at him-his ways of handling those forces. Gilbert suggests living in Endora is like “dancing to no music”. Gilbert suffers from strain and depression throughout the movie. He’s a young man that has been hampered by more burdens than any man his age should have in an entire lifetime. His adversity started when his father hung himself seventeen years ago in their basement, which in turn crippled his life. Gilbert has been forced to play the role of “dad”. He has a job stocking shelves and delivering groceries at the local store to make sure everyone is fed. He takes the leading role in caring for his mentally challenged brother. At his age, he should be out enjoying himself and not having to take care of his family.
Overall from watching the movie, Gilbert didn’t have his own personal identity. Which in my opinion, Erickson explains in his theory early discussed. Personal identity is much like the blueprint for mankind, like a house for instance, it is built and shaped after its design. If not built properly the house will eventually fall apart from how it was built or by the causes of nature. In the case of someone’s identity if built properly