What's Eating Gilbert Grape and The Glass Menagerie, have common themes, character types and symbols. The common thing that stood out most was character type. Mom and Amanda can be compared, Arnie and Laura can be compared, and Gilbert and Tom can be compared. In Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, Amanda is born in St. Louis some time ago; therefore she lives in the past. Laura is extremely insecure and Tom acts as if he regrets his life. In the movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape, mom refers to the past a couple of times but mostly because of her weight problem. Arnie is very outspoken. Gilbert is very hard working and loyal to his job. The Glass Menagerie and What's Eating Gilbert Grape, both have outstanding and interesting story lines.

Mom and Amanda are both the mothers of the families. Mom smokes cigarettes while Amanda is constantly nagging...