In What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, the house was burned down by Gilbert and his family as a pivotal, symbolic act following the death of their mother, Bonnie. This decision served multiple profound purposes, primarily to preserve their mother's dignity and allow the family to move forward.
Why the House Was Burned Down
The act of setting fire to the family home after Bonnie Grape's passing was a deliberate and deeply meaningful decision made by Gilbert, with the support of his siblings, Amy, Larry, Janice, and Arnie. The family was observed carrying their belongings out of the house while Momma's body remained inside, signaling a conscious choice to leave their past behind in a dramatic fashion.
The primary reasons for this drastic measure were:
1. To Avoid Negative Attention for Momma
One of the most compelling reasons for burning the house was to shield Bonnie Grape from public scrutiny and potential ridicule after her death. Bonnie was morbidly obese, and her physical condition had long been a source of shame and a spectacle in their small town of Endora.
- The family, especially Gilbert, understood that removing her body from the house would inevitably attract unwanted attention from curious townspeople.
- This public spectacle would have further exploited her vulnerability, tarnishing her memory and causing immense pain to the family.
- By burning the house with her inside, they ensured that her final moments and departure were private, preserving her dignity and protecting her from the judgmental eyes of the community. It was an act of profound love and respect.
2. A Means of Letting Go for Gilbert and the Family
Beyond protecting their mother's memory, the burning of the house represented a powerful, cathartic act of letting go for Gilbert and the entire Grape family. The house itself had become a physical manifestation of their family's struggles, their mother's confinement, and the heavy burdens Gilbert had carried for years.
- Emotional Liberation: For Gilbert, who had shouldered the immense responsibility of caring for his family—particularly his mother and younger brother, Arnie—the fire symbolized a release from his long-standing duties and the constraints of his past. It allowed him to metaphorically and literally sever ties with the life that had held him captive.
- Breaking from the Past: The destruction of the house provided a clean break from the past, enabling the family to move on from a period defined by hardship, stagnation, and unique challenges. It was a cleansing act, allowing them to escape the physical and emotional ties that bound them to their old life.
- Embracing New Beginnings: By eliminating the physical structure that had housed their sorrow and responsibilities, the family could look towards a future unencumbered by the past. This act paved the way for new opportunities and allowed them to collectively embrace the possibility of a different life outside Endora.
In essence, the burning of the house was not an act of destruction fueled by malice, but rather a deeply symbolic gesture of protection, closure, and the hopeful embrace of a new chapter for the Grape family.
