The Challenges Of Mama In What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

An individual who chooses to isolate themselves often cannot get the help they want. Many, often think for themselves. If one feels happy of where they are now their emotion wouldn’t change even if it is a poor decision for their own well-being. It is a person’s choice whether they would like to pursue their personal well-being or not. Mama, in the story of What’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Lasse Hallström displays an example of pursuing her own well-being. With many struggles Mama’s pursuit, her personal well-being decreases and leads to her being depressed.

It is only once a person meets with a significant challenge, that they cannot solve on their own that they realize they need the help of others. The need of attention and help in her life …show more content…
Throughout the course of the movie, Mama tires to help herself in her physical well-being by physically standing up, just to go to the washroom. Because she does not get up very often, the kids have to make the effort to move the dinner table, or to grab her blanket, some cigarettes or a lighter. Gilbert at the beginning, explains his mom, “And there’s Mama, who in her day… was the prettiest girl in these parts.” He also says, “Mama’s had her hands full”. The way Gilbert talk about his mom throughout the course of the movie makes it seem like he lost respect for his mom. In a scene in the movie he says to his friend Tucker, “Tucker, she’s a whale.” The kids sacrifice their own lives and time just to help assist Mama or Arnie. When the Grapes’ dad dies, …show more content…
The emotional well-being allows others to connect from the heart, to tell honestly what they feel. Mama’s emotional well-being affects everybody in the Grape family. It also affects those who she talks to. Mama is very sensitive to many things, that’s why the kids must do what she says to avoid much more stress or anger. Her physical and emotional well-being connect because when Mama stress eats, she gets emotional thus, leads her to gain weight. Everyone is affected when Mama gets angry, her emotions cannot be contained very well. For example, when Mama got mad at Arnie, as he kept repeating “Dad’s dead”. Gilbert, Ellen and Amy had to account for Arnie’s actions so that Mama wouldn’t rage causing the floor to possibly break. When Mama is feeling sad or depressed her eldest child Gilbert, is there to comfort her, and to speak with her from the heart. Furthermore, they connect very well because Gilbert understands his mom. As well as Becky, because Becky can easily find a spot where she can emotionally link with Mama and talk to her in a way where Mama doesn’t feel