What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

506 Words3 Pages
By Angela Payne 9B “Gilbert Grape is trapped by responsibilities and routines”. Do you agree? Gilbert Grape is a young man who lives in a small, isolated town named Endora. Living with his Mum Bonnie, a morbidly obese woman, his handicapped brother Arnie, older sister Amy and 15 year old sister Ellen, Gilbert faces many obstacles limiting his freedom to do what he wants in life. “What’s eating Gilbert Grape?” is a film about responsibility and the struggles of a man with too much weight on his shoulders. Gilbert is the second eldest in the family. He is the only able man left. Ever since his dad’s unfortunate death and his older brother’s departure, it was Gilbert who was next in line to be left in charge. He has been left with full responsibility over Arnie, who is quite a handful, and nobody else is ever willing or better yet able to take over. Gilbert’s life revolves around his family and he never has time to himself. If he’s not taking care of Arnie he will be working at Lamson's Grocery providing money for his mother and 3 siblings or keeping up the repairs in the house his father built long ago. He has been trapped into taking on a position that was not built for a 24 year – old. Gilbert is slowly becoming more and more worn down. He craves something with meaning, something like true love. Betty Carver, a married wife with children, has Gilbert sneaking around with her. They share a strong physical attraction towards each other which for Betty is all she needs but for Gilbert, it’s sucking the life out of him. He has been trapped out of love and does not feel any real emotions. Gilbert’s faith in love slowly fades until Becky; a young, bright girl arrives in Endora. She is a bundle of light brought to Gilbert and allows him to look at life with a different perspective and shows him what it’s like to feel real emotions. Gilbert is trapped in a sense

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