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Arnie Mental Illness

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Hooley et al. (2013) states that depression is the emotional state characterized by extraordinary sadness and dejection. Dysthymic disorder or persistent depressive disorder is a category of disorder in the DSM-5. The criteria for dysthymia is having depressed mood for most of the day for at least 2 years. Judging by Gilbert’s side of story, Bonnie has been feeling like this for over seven years. While depressed, the person will have poor appetite or overeat, low energy or fatigue, low esteem, and feelings of hopelessness. All these criteria can be seen in Bonnie’s character. Her fatigue is most visible when she walks only a couple of steps in the house and she would sweat and easily get very tired. Her feelings of hopelessness and helplessness …show more content…

At the beginning of the movie, Gilbert mentions “some days you want him to live, some days you don’t”. This statement signifies what Gilbert thinks of Arnie and his illness. The statement shows that Arnie can be difficult at times and his condition affects the family members. Gilbert perceives the illness negatively, rather than seeing Arnie as just being different and unique. This can be seen in the scene where Gilbert says “I want a new brain for Arnie”. It implies that Gilbert does not really value Arnie and his differences. Moreover, because of his differences, Arnie is physically abused. This can be seen in the scene where his sister Ellen aggressively throws Arnie to the ground and pulls his hair in an attempt to stop him from climbing up the water tower. Gilbert too once hit Arnie in the bathroom in an attempt to force Arnie to clean himself up. Ellen frequently expresses her annoyance and disgust towards Arnie by making facial expressions. This can clearly be seen during meal times at the dinner table. Despite all this, Arnie is still treated kindly by Gilbert at other times. To look out for his brother, Gilbert has a policy of protecting Arnie from being hurt by other people. He even scolds Ellen for hurting Arnie. Arnie’s mother Bonnie treats Arnie with kindness and love and calls him her

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In Peter Hedges’ written drama, the eponymous Gilbert Grape is stuck in his hometown of Endora to be the sole caretaker of his atypical family. Gilbert’s father had committed suicide and left him with this responsibility. Shaken by the death of her husband, Gilbert’s mother, Bonnie, stops leaving the house and sits on the couch all day watching television. As a result, she grew extremely obese. With some help from his two sisters, Ellen and Amy, Gilbert takes care of his extremely obese mother and his vulnerable brother, Arnie.

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When they had a family fight, Gilbert left during dinner time and didn’t came back until the next day and Mrs. Grape lectured him and told him that she couldn’t think that she could be strong enough to manage someone else leaving

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The relationship between Mrs. Carver and Gilbert is physical. They started the affair when Gilbert was only seventeen. As the story progresses, the audience realizes Gilbert feels stuck in the affair and wants a way out. This is especially prominent when Becky comes to Endora which encourages Gilbert to want more out of his life. Since their relationship started when Gilbert was fairly young, he does not understand what a true romantic relationship should look like.

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1055 Words | 5 Pages

Gilbert slowly starts to lose it with Arnie, and even abuses him towards the end when he misbehaved and wouldn’t get in the shower. Gilbert is so shocked from his action that he took off and spent the night with Becky. He showed up the next day for Arnies birthday and made up with his brother and the rest of the family. At the end of the film, the mother passes away and Becky leaves the town, only to return a year later for Arnie’s nineteenth

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Gilbert is trying not to be angry even though he is angry because of his love for Helen. He expresses that Helen and himself are part of a close friendship and a sign of that can be shown when he squeezes her hand with sincere as a sincere apology. The good friendship between them has begun and from this point

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Crooks is old, has lost his other arms, his back is crooked and he has no fate, but he courages Lennie for his future. Paragraph 3 In What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, Gilbert demonstrates a decent family care for Arnie who is handicapped. All the family members except Gilbert does not care about Arnie or love him.

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1001 Words | 5 Pages

Gilbert always wants things for others, but never asks for things for himself. We see this with concern and feel sorry for him as we know Gilbert is an understanding person and cares for others. As the film progresses, Gilbert opens up and stops repressing his feelings because of Becky. This is shown when she insists on asking what Gilbert want for him only, and through that we can also understand that Becky is the catalyst for Gilbert’s changes. This is important because Gilbert at last released his emotions instead of carrying all the weight of the family alone, suggesting he is starting to value himself more.

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How Is Arnie Portrayed In What's Eating Gilbert Grape

1208 Words | 5 Pages

He proceeds to get extremely angry and throws a tantrum when she doesn’t wake up. Arnie is constantly shown to not be able to take care of himself and viewed as pathetic by everyone except Becky. “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” is one of the rare movies to not depict Arnie as a savant according to Douwne, “In movies, however, there are hardly any autistic

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699 Words | 3 Pages

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902 Words | 4 Pages

Another thing that Gilbert wanted to forget and leave behind, was the time he beat up Arnie in the bath tub. Gilbert said himself, “I am beyond hate for myself”(277). Gilbert had been protecting Arnie his whole life and now he had failed. Gilbert was filled with hatred. Becky tried to get Gilbert to see his own hatred throughout the second half of the book.

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