Journey

Films tend to use the journey motif to represent the emotional progress of the characters. The physical journey symbolizes a greater emotional or mental journey that the characters make during the course of the film. Rain Man follows in a long line of these films that seek to show a mental and emotional journey through a physical journey. Charlie's journey begins and ends in Los Angeles; however, he is a totally different man by the time he returns. Charlie's change can be seen as the characters travel across the country in the Buick Roadmaster his father left to him in the estate. As Charlie and Raymond travel, Charlie begins to change for the better.

Charlie is shallow when we first meet him, caring only about the money he makes selling cars. Charlie has no real goals involving friends or family: he seems to just be obsessed with running...