This
paper explores life in small town America as seen through the eyes of 24-year-old Gilbert Grape. Peter Hedges's novel
"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" details the Grape family which revolves around Momma, a woman who copes with her husband's suicide by remaining in the safe confines of her home where she suppresses her pain with food. Gilbert begins as the narrator, passively going through life
waiting for something wonderful to happen to him while waiting to get out of Endora. This
paper also discusses how Gilbert grapples with his love and simultaneous hatred for his family stemming from his bitterness about his predicament.