What's Eating Gilbert Grape

“The bright side for me is difficult on mornings like these. There’s no escaping that I’m twenty-four years old, that I’ve been out of Iowa a whopping one whole time, that you could say about all I’ve done in my life to this point is baby-sit my retard brother, buy cigarettes for my mother, and sack groceries for the esteemed citizens of Endora.”

Gilbert begins to illustrate one of the themes of this novel, Different Forms of Escape, as he describes himself. He feels stuck in his life despite his admirable devotion to his younger brother and to the care of his family. Gilbert’s perception of himself is highly negative, as is his description of his brother. By using a word that, even in 1989, is considered derogatory and unacceptable, Gilbert implies a level of disdain toward his brother; however, his actions suggest otherwise. Gilbert is kind to Arnie and patient with him in a way other members of his family are not. Gilbert views himself as less than he should be at his age, but from the beginning of the novel it is clear that Gilbert's important role in his family keeps him in Endora.

“It’s been over three years since she stepped out of the house, and other than her children and a former friend here and there, no one in town has seen her. They talk about her, sure, but mostly in whispers.”

Gilbert describes his mother’s hermit-like behavior, obesity, and daily routine. Revealing that Bonnie does not leave the house foreshadows a moment later in the novel when she will leave for Arnie's sake. In addition, Gilbert’s understanding that people gossip about his mother relates to his level of embarrassment and also foreshadows his fear for her reputation at the end of the novel. People gossip, and Gilbert realizes that.