gilbert the grape

A detailed Summary of gilbert the grape

Feature films engage with the audience in many ways. The films The Castle, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Rocky all contain strong central characters, in which the characterisation of them plays a large part in engaging the viewer and conveying messages encoded in the films. For example, in the satirical The Castle, Daryl Kerrigan is portrayed as a regular 'Aussie Battler', with exaggerated traditional family and neighbourhood values to highlight the advantages of being of a higher class in society, and how the government deals with issues regarding the needs of the individual in society. The characterisation of Gilbert Grape in What's Eating Gilbert Grape assists in inflicting values of ones personal needs to the viewer while intertextual references to the life of Mohamed Ali in Rocky inflicts values of personal goals and determination.

Daryl Kerrigan is the central character in The Castle. He is characterised to have an 'average' or 'normal' character. He is portrayed as 'just another one in the crowd'. He is often pictured next to tall buildings, humbling his figure, and high objects surround his house, such as planes and electricity towers. The airport and the towers also make him appear small and humble because they are

In Rocky, Rocky Bal Boa is the central character. His character is modelled on Mohamed Ali, as portrayed in the documentary 'When We Were Kings'. However, the end results of Ali's and Rocky's fights contrast, with Rocky losing and Ali winning. This signifies to the viewer that according to Rocky's values and aims, he had won, he had his girlfriend and he had 'gone the distance' and fought to the best of his ability.

Gilbert Grape is the central character of What's Eating Gilbert Grape. He is characterised as being trapped in his unrewarding and boring life. He works in a small store and lives with his family. This is developed by use of filmic techniques from the opening of the film when Arnie and Gilbert are waiting at the side of the road. Arnie is running around in circles talking excitedly, while Gilbert is sitting under the shade of a large tree, answering Arnie's questions in dulcet tones. The scenery is desolate and isolated with a long straight road stretching into the distance, representing Gilbert's boring and unrewarding life. The road also, as it is the only road in or out of Endora, symbolises the only way for Gilbert to leave his life. This notion is also expressed in the intent of Gilbert and Arnie, being to watch the string of campervans going passing through. They wish to be like them, they wish to move away from their current lives, yet they are just watching their chances pass. This is confirmed at the end of the film when Gilbert is finally driving on the road, leaving his life. The contrasting actions of the two at this point represent Gilbert's static nature, that he is going nowhere and achieving nothing in life. The repetition of him saying, "We're not going anywhere" represents Gilbert's entrapment while his voice, lacking emotion and expression, reflects his submissive nature. Further in the film there are many other symbols representing Gilberts entrapment, for example, the lobsters at the shop and the Arnie's bugs in the jar, the fact they are Arnie's bugs symbolising it is Arnie that burdens and therefore traps Gilbert. A window or the camera often frames Gilbert, further highlighting this entrapment.

Daryl is characterised to be the typical 'Aussie battler'; he is simple, optimistic, and loving and caring toward his family

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Approximate Word count = 1532
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels