Responsibility In What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? In the film, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”, Gilbert Grape is introduced as a young man living in Endora, Iowa with his family. Gilbert takes care of his 17-year-old brother named Arnie, who is mentally handicapped. Gilbert lives with his two sisters and obese mother; his mother began to gain weight rapidly when Gilbert’s father decided to take his life which leads to Mrs. Grape never leaving home. After this incident, Gilbert becomes the man of the house which comes with many responsibilities; this keeps Gilbert from enjoying life.

Question 1

Throughout the film, there were many themes such as responsibility, death, relationships, and family. Responsibility is a major theme in the movie; Gilbert is responsible

Ellen hates the fact that the family attention is always on Arnie. In one of the scene, Ellen hurts Arnie and Gilbert comes to the rescue. Ellen doesn’t understand that Arnie behavior isn’t on purpose, it’s how his mind works. Ellen needs to know that Arnie needs the care and attention due to his mental disability. Amy treats Arnie with care because she realizes that what he needs. This becomes another responsibility for her since she is the mother figure of the household. Mama wants Arnie to be protective and loved at all time. She wants her children to look after Arnie because of his mental disability. She is overprotective of him because she knows that not everyone understands what Arnie has and don’t sympathize with him. There’s a scene in the movie when the police take Arnie in because he climbs the town 's water tower. This has repeatedly happened which results from them taking Arnie to the station, once Mama heard this happened, she left the house for the first time after Mr. Grape’s suicide. She goes down to the station in front of the town and demands her child back. Mama proves that she will do anything for her kids. Gilbert is the family member most impacted because of Arnie’s particular needs. Gilbert is the closest to Arnie and takes care of him for them a majority of the time. Arnie is a handful, and Gilbert is responsible for his well-being. Mama counts on Gilbert to protective and looks over Arnie. This responsible causes Gilbert to put his life on hold and focus on his family, especially on