What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – Todorov’s Narrative Structure
Todorov’s narrative structure theory simply outlines the chain of events found in the storyline to conventional films. He suggests that stories begin with an equilibrium or status quo where any potential opposing forces are in balance. This is disrupted by some event, setting in chain a series of events. Problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of fiction.
The sequence of events is said to go something like this:
1. Equilibrium – Usually the Hero’s normal life.
2. Disruption – A problem or event that breaks the normality.
3. Resolution – Eventually, they succeed in overcoming the disruption.
4. New Equilibrium – Things return to normal but there is a change in the Hero.
Gilbert Grape
1. Equilibrium – Gilbert’s normal life revolves around taking care of his little brother Arnie, his two sisters and his obese mother. He also has a job at a nearby grocery store and is having an affair with a married woman called Betty Carver. He also feels trapped in Endora but can’t leave as then there would be no one to care for his family and he doesn’t want to be like his father who committed suicide and left them all behind.
2. Disruption – The event that breaks the normality is when a young woman named Becky and her grandmother get stuck in town when their trailer breaks down. Gilbert ends up developing a crush on Becky and wants to leave town with her and be free but cannot leave his family behind with no one to care for them and no money.
3. Resolution – The resolution happens when the mother dies and Gilbert’s two sisters move away for work and school.
4. New Equilibrium – The new normality is that Gilbert is free to finally leave Endora with Arnie and go travel with Becky.