What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1991) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Characters edit see section history

• Gilbert Grape: Gilbert Grape is 24 years old and one of only four members of his graduating class who never made it out of Endora, Iowa. He works for Lamson Grocery and helps to take care of his eighteen year-old brother, Arnie, who is mentally handicapped
• Arnie Grape: Gilbert's mentally handicapped younger brother, who is about to turn 18. The doctors said that he would never make it to age 10, and a big party is being planned for Arnie's 18th birthday.
• Amy Grape: Amy is the oldest of the Grape children. She has stayed at home to help to care for her family. At 34 years old she is unmarried, and works as a teacher's assistant during the school year. She is beginning to pile on weight and worries about ending up "like Momma."
• Ellen Grape: Ellen Grape is Gilbert's 16 year-old younger sister. She is interested in makeup, boys, and Jesus (in that order) and is eternally adolescent. With no filter, she often hands out too much information. She considers herself a beauty and is very jealous of any competition.
• Janice Grape: Janice Grape is Gilbert's older sister. The only Grape who went to college, Janice has a degree in psychology but works as an airline stewardess.
• Larry Grape: Larry Grape is Gilbert's older brother. Larry was the one who found their father hanging from the rafters in the basement and because of this he rarely comes home, as he can't stand to be near the house where he found his father dead.
• Bonnie Grape: Bonnie Grape, formerly the beauty queen of Endora Iowa, took to eating shortly after her husband's death. When the story begins, she hasn't been out of the house for three years, and has continued to grow throughout that time. Because of her excessive weight, the floor beneath the chair where she sits is beginning to sag.
• Tucker Van Dyke: Tucker Van Dyke is Gilbert's best friend.
• Bobby McBurney: Bobby McBurney is the son of the owner of the local funeral home.
• Becky: Becky rides into town one day on her bike. She is beautiful, with black hair and perfect teeth, and all the men in town want her, while all the women in town want to be her. She captures Gilbert's attention immediately. Becky is 15.
• Mrs. Betty Carver: Mrs. Betty Carver is Gilbert's mistress from the time that he was 17 years old. She is married to the local insurance salesman.
• Mrs. Lamson: Add a description of this character.
• Momma
• Lance Dodge
• Melanie
• Dr. Harvey
• Mrs. Brainer
• Todd
• Dave Allen
• Jean
• Farrell
• Charlie
• Tim
• Sonny
• Doug
• Muffy
• Amie
• Cindy Mansfield
• Mrs. Rex Mefford
• Donna
• Albert

Quotes edit see section history

• “Maybe he didn't feel that he could leave them.”

  Gilbert Grape

• “I messed up on Wednesday, sir, and now it's getting way out of hand.”

  Gilbert Grape

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Iowa
• Michigan
• Motley
• Food Land
• Ramp Cafe
• America

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Peter Hedges (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813.54

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › United States
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Family Saga
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

Movie Connections edit see section history

• What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) (IMDb)