Gilbert Grape is the protagonist of this novel. He feels trapped because his father died, and his mother is disabled by her obesity. At a young age, Gilbert had to step up and become a breadwinner and father figure to his two younger siblings, in addition to providing emotional support to his older sister, who became their mother figure and caretaker. Most of Gilbert’s classmates moved out of the area after high school, leaving him feeling that he missed an opportunity to live a different life. Yet, as the novel progresses, it seems that Gilbert is more content in his small-town life than he admits. Watching progress come to town bothers him, especially in the way it impacts the local grocery where he works. Gilbert is fiercely loyal to Lamson Grocery and its owners, refusing to step foot inside Food Land until he is forced to do so after Arnie destroys his birthday cake.

Gilbert’s relationships with his family members are complicated. He dislikes Ellen because she is beautiful; her looks offer her possibilities for escaping Endora and the Grape family home. At the same time, Ellen is young and immature, constantly arguing with Gilbert and Amy over household chores and responsibility for Arnie.