In the movie, what is eating Gilbert Grape; Arnie is a seventeen-year-old Caucasian male

who appears to be suffering from brain damage. Although, no specific information was given
about Arnies condition, it should be noted that the doctors did not expect him to live beyond the
age of twelve. Based on observations of Arnies behaviors, he appears to have a language
deficiency, poor social skills, disruptive behaviors, and impairment in his cognitive and
intellectual functioning. According to the DSM-IV-TR, Arnie meets the criteria for an Axis II
diagnosis of mental retardation. Included in the DSM-IV-TR Axis II categories are personality
disorders and mental retardation. Mental retardation is not considered a cognitive disorder or a
personality disorder. There are four different levels of mental retardation specified in the DSM-
IV-TR: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. Each level is determined by the range of which
the individual scores on the Wechsler scale, which is used to measure an individuals IQ. When
one receives a score of 70 or less, displays deficiencies in adaptive behaviors, and have an onset
of symptoms before age eighteen, they are considered to be mentally retarded. Mental
retardation is generally diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. Two factors seem to
contribute to mental retardation, biology and environment. From a biological model, one would
assume that genetics contributed to Arnies disease. Researchers in this group would look at
family history or a genetic abnormality; this could be the absence of or an additional gene on a
chromosome, to explain Arnies disease. In Arnies case, everyone in his immediate family
appears to have normal functioning in their daily lives, and there are no apparent physical or
mental delays. We can also look to explain Arnies condition from an environmental
perspective. From an environmental perspective, several factors may contribute to mental
retardation, among...
Summary
Written by Peter Hedges, Whats Eating Gilbert Grape is the story of the Grape family, which
consists of Gilbert, Amy, Arnie, Ellen, and Bonnie. The movie is narrated by Gilbert Grape.
Arnie is one of the main characters in the movie. Arnie is a 17-year-old male who shows signs of
having Mental Retardation and Autism. Throughout the majority of the movie, Arnie is looking
forward to the birthday party his family is going to be throwing for him for his 18th birthday.
The movie is based on how the members of the Grape family are affected by Arnies disabilities,
and the daily struggles they go through while caring for a family member with disabilities. All of
Arnies siblings help out, but Gilbert does the majority of the work when it comes to caring for
Arnie. Gilbert takes Arnie to work with him at the local grocery store, gives him his bath on a
daily basis, and is always looking after him. Although, sometimes, Gilbert does not watch his
brother close enough and he usually ends up climbing the water tower in town or is getting into
some other kind of trouble.

Gilbert Grape was the one appointed to caring for Arnie since he is the only man left in the house
since Mr. Grape committed suicide seven years ago. Mr. Grapes death left their mother, Bonnie,
severely depressed and morbidly obese. Bonnie has not left the house in seven years, and her
weight has left her incapable of caring for Arnie for years. Although it is obvious that Bonnie
does feel guilty about leaving the care of Arnie completely up to her children, it is at times
apparent throughout the movie that Bonnie and the children make it sound like Arnie may be the
cause behind the death of Mr. Grape and the reason for the depression and current condition of
their mother. It is evident throughout the movie the stress the Grape family is under. They are
always arguing, and all of their arguments seem to revolve around one thing; Arnie.
What's Eating Gilbert Grape? Autism, obesity and family issues
Whats eating Gilbert Grape?
The movie I have selected is Whats eating Gilbert Grape. This movie depicts Johnny
Depp as Gilbert who takes care of his 17 year old brother Arnie who has a severe case of autism.
Gilbert has his hands full working at a grocery store close to going out of business, trying to help
his obese and depressed mother after his father suicide. He is also trying to fix their very old
home. Not to mention have a life of his own with a new girl in town. The bond and unconditional
love between both brothers is remarkable and truly beautiful.
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by abnormalities in social
functioning, language and communication and unusual behaviors and interests. More
specifically, autism affects every aspect of the childs interaction with his or her world, involves
many parts of the brain and undermines the very traits that make us human-our social
responsiveness, ability to communicate, and feelings for other people.(Mash, Wolfe, 2010) It is
a spectrum disorder which means that its symptoms and characteristics are expressed in many
different combinations and in any degree of severity. (Mash, Wolfe, 2010)
I know that Arnie in this movie has autism because he displayed limited language skills
and had trouble communicating with others. He rarely spoke and when he did he generally
repeated what others were saying around him. He seemed much disengaged from the rest of the
world and any social connections. He spent most of his time participating in rituals he set up for
himself such as counting, climbing up his tree. He also continuously climbed the nearby water
tower after being told numerously he shouldnt. He could not perform normal everyday tasks on
his own such as taking a bath. His brother Gilbert assumed he would be able to finish up his bath
and come out on his own, only to come in the washroom in the morning to have Arnie still in the
water waiting for him to help him out. Arnie also got very excited with the presence of certain
things such as campers driving by or people looking for him. He showed fear towards water after
the incident with his brother. The textbook states the quality of child-mother attachment in
young children with autism contributes substantially to the development of the childs play
behaviour, which is important for the development of social skills.(Mash, Wolfe, 2010) I
believe this is true in Arnies case as well because he seemed to enjoy being outside and playi ..

The film that I chose to do for my term assignment was, Whats Eating Gilbert Grape. I
chose this movie because I think it has all the characteristics of representing a family who deals
with someone who has a psychological disorder. This film is about a dysfunctional family who
goes through many situations. Even though the family represents dysfunction, they still portray
the experiences of love, tenderness, caring for one another, and self awareness.
The film is based on the Grape family who live in the town of Endora. The family
consists of Amy who is the oldest sister in the family, who plays the role of a mother to the
family. There is Ellen who is fifteen years old, who just took her braces off and cant believe she
can feel her teeth. There is Arnie, who is seventeen years old and suffers from a psychological
disorder. There is Gilbert who is the protector of Arnie, and who the family depends on. There is
the mother, Bonnie, who is obese and hasnt left the house for over seven years. The family
lacks a father figure because the father hung himself in the basement. The friends that surround
Arnie and Gilbert are, Tucker, who does favors for Gilberts house, and Bobby, who works are a
coroner and driver. Becky appears out of the bloom when her grandmothers camper gets busted,
she helps Gilbert see the world differently.
Endora, a place where nothing really happens, is where Gilbert takes care of his
brother Arnie who is seventeen, but has autism. The doctor had told the Grape family that Arnie
would live until the age of ten probably, once he turned ten the doctors told them any time now
Arnie can leave. The family plays the game Have you seen Arnie? where Arnie climbs on the
roof or tree and hides from his family members. Arnie is about to turn eighteen, so the family
is planning a party for him. While planning the party, the family goes through many stressful
situations. One of the situations is, when the family is having dinner Ellen and Gilbert are
arguing about talking with their mouthful and Ellen makes a comment about Gilbert acting like
their dad, at that moment Arnie has an outburst of screams saying dads dead which makes
momma frustrated with Arnie who she yells at him to stop. Another situation, Arnie has the
tendency to climb the water-tower, but after several warnings to Gilbert and Arnie the cops arrest
Arnie. The family stresses in getting Arnie out, when the mom decides to go get him herself with
the rest of the family, she exposes her obese-self to the town of Endora. Thirdly, the biggest
situation of Arnie and Gilbert is when Gilbert tries to bathe Arnie and he becomes difficult.
Gilbert for the first time hits Arnie and flees. When Arnies birthday party arrives, Gilbert hugs
Arnie and continues on with the day with his family. Finally, the final disastrous moment was
when momma (Bonnie) dies in the house. The family burns the house to avoid a scene for their
dead mother and themselves. Finally, the ending of the film is that Gilbert and Arnie leave off
with Becky and leave Endora, Gilbert takes Arnie because hes Arnies guardian angel.


Arnies character is very childish and curious. Throughout the film he acts like an
eight to ten year old boy. He throws many tantrums throughout the film, some examples are
when the family is planning the food for the birthday party he insist that he wants hot dogs and
his mother assures him there will be hot dogs. Another example is when Arnie doesnt want to
take anymore baths because of the incident with Gilbert; his mom gives in on Arnie not taking
anymore baths. When Gilbert tries to bathe Arnie, first Arnie runs around the house so Gilbert
can catch him. He laughs with a high pitched somewhat scream. His facial expressions are very
childish like. He squints his eyes very often. He does reflexes that little kids do, like scratch his
head when hes nervous our confused. He also experiences guilt when he does something wrong,
like when he kills a grasshopper with the mailbox door, he cries to Gilbert saying I killed it.
He also repeats phases, like Dont scare Gilbert he repeats it to reassure himself.
Overall the movie reflects the psychological disorders of autism, mental
retardation, and brain damage. It reflects these two disorders very clearly in the character of
Arnie. The character is hopeless in the way that he wont be able to live a life of his own without
someone being there for him to take care of him. It shows how Arnie doesnt know whats right
from wrong in the situations of not climbing the water-tower, but he does it. He has many of the
body reflexes in reflecting mental retardation and autism. He appears to have language
deficiency, poor social skills, disruptive behavior, and impairment in his cognitive and
intellectual functioning. I chose this movie because I thought the actors truly acts as a person
who might have these psychological disorders. I saw no forcing in the acting, everything seemed
so real that made the disorder feel real to the audience. It got me engaged in what Arnie felt and
went through.


AXIS I Code: 299.00
Diagnosis: Autistic Disorder
Code: 314.9Diagnostic: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
I justify that in Axis 1 its Autistic Disorder. Arnie falls into many of the
categories within autism. He falls in many of categories. Arnie fails to develop peer relationships
appropriate to developmental level. He has an impairment of looking people straight in the eye;
he has many facial expressions which he reflects to his emotions and actions. His body postures
also reflect his autism in when he plays or when hes eating, his posture isnt exactly normal.
Arnie fails to sustain a conversation because he changes topic. He has repetitive body
movements, such as twisting his neck and his arms positioning them in a stiff position. Arnie has
a way of talking with pauses or goes blank and continues talking, when he is speaking with
Gilbert.
I also justify that Arnie has attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder NOS,
because he keeps on going to the water-tower. He keeps on doing it even though the authority
and family have told him no. Also he has an impulsivity to climb trees.
AXIS II Code: 318.1
Diagnosis: Severe Mental Retardation

I justify mental retardation because; mental retardation is generally diagnosed
in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. Two factors seem to contribute to mental retardation,
biology and environment. From a biological model, one would assume that genetics contributed
to Arnies disease. Researchers in this group would look at family history or a genetic
abnormality; this could be the absence of or an additional gene on a chromosome, to explain
Arnies disease. In Arnies case, everyone in his immediate family appears to have normal
functioning in their daily lives, and there are no apparent physical or mental delays. Arnie would
have to be dependent on someone. He is too childish to function on his own. Someone has to
help him take a bath, because he doesnt understand in doing it by himself. He lack discipline in
knowing whats right and wrong. It seems he hasnt been introduced to school, and the doctor
had told the family that his condition might kill him. At some point Gilbert wishes for a new
brain for his brother, another reason to say its mental retardation. Arnie needs to be supervised at
all cost, which proves that mentally he hasnt developed to the age he is which is eighteen.
AXIS III None
I justify that Arnie has no medical condition problem, because he isnt exposed
to a doctor to be prescribed medicines or antibiotics. He seems to be in good health; just
psychological disorders seem to be viewed.
AXIS IV Problems related to interaction with legal system, Educational
problems
I justify that Arnie has educational problems because he isnt exposed to
school, and the interaction with the law. I justify this because he doesnt seem to understand the
consequences when hes stepping into the water-tower.

AXIS V GAF (current): 60
I justify this because; Arnie has good relationships with his family. But he has
social issues with some strangers. He isnt as severe while hes surrounded by Gilbert or
someone in his family.
He is capable to be around but, will talk not in normal language, meaning he will have
moments which he will go into his own little world.
Overall I enjoyed this movie I believe it really reflects the abnormal
psychological problems. I enjoyed actually doing this assignment because it gave me the
experience of being able to diagnose someone to my observations.
Reflection
This paper made me realize how important is to analyze things, objects and people. This
assignment was based on diagnosing someone who has a mental illness. This had to be based on
an individual who had to fit in categories og a diagnostic.