Tools of Characterization

Characterization in Rain Man

Speech

We don't really need anyone to tell us that Charlie Babbitt is selfish and insensitive when we first meet him—he does a great job telling us all on his own.

When he doesn't like the way Raymond is acting in a restaurant, for example, he gets irritated and yells at Ray to "Stop actin' like a f***in' retard." The "r" word isn't cool now and it wasn't cool back then—so his use of it in anger… and in public… and with his brother (!)—tells you he's a jerk when we first meet him.

Family Life

We can also tell a lot about Charlie from his family sitch. At the beginning of the film, he's been estranged from his father for years because of an argument over a car. Sure, we all know little family arguments can blow up and become bigger than you might expect, but not speaking to your dad for years because he wouldn't let you take out his vintage car when you were a teenager?

Seems a little over-the-top, and it definitely doesn't suggest that Charlie's priorities are in order.

On a more positive note, though, we can tell that Charlie's straightening up when he starts valuing his relationship with his newfound brother. Sure, initially he had held him for ransom to get some of his lost inheritance back, but eventually he pushes to have Raymond come to live with him because he actually likes him. The turnaround in Charlie's attitude toward family signals changes in his attitude and priorities as well.

Actions

Actions speak louder than… well, you know the saying, and it's as true in Rain Man as it is elsewhere in life.

We can tell a lot about Charlie—both how he is at the beginning and how he's changed toward the end—by how he treats people.

A great example of his early jerkiness comes when he, Ray, and Susanna are sharing a hotel suite. Charlie and Susanna decide to get frisky with the door open (?!), and Raymond wanders in when he hears strange noises coming from their room. Charlie is furious at Raymond's invasion of their privacy and yells at him in a pretty harsh and unnecessary way.

However, later in the film, Raymond almost sets Charlie's house on fire (by accident), and Charlie is totally kind and soothing—instead of worrying about himself, he's more focused on making sure Ray is okay. So, you can tell he's had a big turnaround, character-wise, by looking at how he deals with Ray's behavior.