When the movie started, I saw a
prideful Charlie Babbit who is so full of himself. He is an independent man who
ran away from home when he was sixteen because he hated his father so much for
letting him stay in prison for two days because he “stole” the Buick of his
father. He also said that since his mother died when he was two, he and his
father did not get along. He also remembered an imaginary friend, “Rain Man”
who sings to him whenever he was scared. Since he left home, Charlie did not
communicate with his father in any way. He did not need to know anything about
his father until his death. When he was told about his father’s death, Charlie
just shrugged it off and only because of Susanna that they went to the funeral.
I thought to myself, “What kind of son is he?” Maybe his father had not been
fully a father to Charlie but still, he had provided for Charlie from the
beginning. Charlie was also angered when he found out that his father only left
him his Buick and his gardens of roses. Then he got mad when he knew that the
three-million dollar inheritance will go to some institution that he eventually
known to be a mental institution where his brother was staying. He did not know
that he had a brother. He asked repeatedly, “Why didn’t anybody tell me I had a
brother?” He kept on asking that question with anger in his voice, and because
of that I also thought what Dr. Bruner told Charlie Babbit, “What’s the point?
What would you’ve done about this?” Would it change anything if Charlie knew he
had a brother? I think the answer is yes. Charlie said he doesn’t know if that
would have changed anything. But I am thinking that may be deep in his heart Charlie
felt that things should not have been that way it were if he only knew he had a
brother. If he had known about Raymond, maybe he did not run away from home
because he knows he still has someone to call family aside from his father.
Their journey as brothers started when Charlie decided to take Raymond with him
to Los Angeles so that he could start a custody
battle and possibly get half of the inheritance of Raymond.
When
Charlie tried to know more about his brother, he discovered that he is an
autistic savant. Raymond has autism and performs high above the average when
doing certain things, like his superb recall. He acts weirdly compared to
normal people. He has his own rituals and always follows his routines. He had
his food scheduled everyday of the week. He also had his television show
viewing schedule. He loves cheese balls and apple juice. He is great in drawing,
complex mathematics, and counting things just by looking at them. He also loves
books. He reads lots of books but he doesn’t remember if he had read those
books if you ask him. Whenever he gets nervous, he does “Who’s on First?” When
his routine is not followed, he screams. When people also make him do the
things he doesn’t like to do, he reacts violently. When he sees things that
remind him of a fearful incident from the past, probably a traumatic
experience, he shouts and even hurt himself. Just like boarding on a plane,
riding on a covered car, driving on a highway, hot water in the tub, and the smoke
alarm. Though Raymond has problems in communicating, learning, and even expressing
his emotions, I am certain that he could feel emotions like other people. He
just couldn’t process those emotions like normal people do.
It was revealed that
Raymond was sent to the mental institution after an incident in the tub with
hot water and Charlie Babbit. They thought that he would hurt the Charlie
Babbit so they put him away. Also, Raymond is the one whom Charlie remembered
wrongly as Rain Man when he was a child. Rain Man was the protective figure in
Charlie’s childhood that would sing to him everytime he gets scared. Bit by
bit, Charlie finds himself becoming protective
of Raymond. Little by little he understands Raymond even he does and wants the
oddest things in this world. Charlie taught Raymond how to dance. As a man of
pride, the old Charlie Babbit could have not taught Raymond how to dance
because he will say to himself that it is so gay and awkward. But inspite of
the fact that dancing with his autistic brother is a lame idea, he still did it.
He taught Raymond how to dance out of love. He even felt like giving Raymond a
hug. That moment struck a chord in me. I felt his love for his brother. Inspite
of his superficial antics, Charlie Babbit had grown to love Raymond Babbit, his
brother, truly. Further evidence of his love for his brother was the time when
he refused to accept the two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar check that Dr.
Bruner tried to give him for him to leave Raymond alone. But Charlie said that
it was not about the money anymore. He wants to be with his brother because he
cares about his brother. Knowing his brother, even just for a short period of
time, Raymond changed the heart of Charlie Babbit. Having his brother in his
life certainly made his world turn around. Charlie Babbit learned how to love without
expecting anything in return. He finally learned how to love unconditionally.
Autism is known as a complex developmental disability that
presents itself during the first three years of a person's life. The condition
is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain
function, affecting development of the person's communication and social
interaction skills. People with autism have issues with non-verbal
communication, a wide range of social interactions, and activities that include
an element of play and/or banter.1 In
many cases, genetic anomalies associated with autism are not inherited, but are
considered to be spontaneous
mutations. Many researchers believe that a
combination of several genetic differences plus some form of environmental
"insult," may lead to autism.2 The exact causes of Autism
are not yet known but experts say that both genetic and environmental factors
play a significant role. There is also no known cure for Autism. The most
effective treatment known today is behavioral intervention (structured teaching
of skills). Early and intensive education can help children with autism grow
and learn new skills. Autism is a disability that anyone could have but love is
a powerful cure that anyone could give. Being “normal” is subjective when you
talk about it with the inclusion of love, because love definitely surpasses
anything. Love surpasses Autism.
References:
2 Rudy, L.J. Is Autism Genetic? February 19, 2012. http://autism.about.com/od/causesofautism/a/genetics.htm
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