“The World According to Garp” is a 1982 film adaptation of John Irving’s novel, directed by George Roy Hill. It stars Robin Williams, Glenn Close, Mary Beth Hurt, John Lithgow, Hume Cronyn, and Jessica Tandy. This darkly comic and emotionally nuanced story follows the life of T.S. Garp, from his unconventional conception to his adulthood. The film explores themes of love, sexuality, feminism, fear, and the unpredictability of life.
The film opens with Jenny Fields (Glenn Close), a determined and unconventional nurse during World War II. Rejecting traditional romance and marriage, Jenny decides she wants a child without the complications of a relationship. She becomes pregnant by having sex with a brain-injured soldier at the hospital and later gives birth to her son, T.S. Garp. Jenny raises Garp as a fiercely independent single mother, instilling in him her values of honesty and self-reliance.
As Garp grows into adulthood, portrayed by Robin Williams, he struggles to find his identity. He develops an interest in writing while working at a boys’ prep school where his mother serves as a nurse. There, he meets Helen Holm, played by Mary Beth Hurt, the daughter of the school’s wrestling coach, portrayed by Hume Cronyn. Helen is intelligent and ambitious, and the two eventually fall in love.
Meanwhile, Jenny unexpectedly becomes a feminist icon after publishing her memoir, Sexual Suspect, which recounts her unconventional life and views on independence and motherhood. The book becomes a bestseller, and Jenny’s home transforms into a refuge for women seeking safety and community.
Garp and Helen move to Vienna, where Garp attempts to write his first novel while Helen pursues her studies. During their time there, they meet Roberta Muldoon, portrayed by John Lithgow. Roberta is a transgender former football player and a close friend who becomes an important part of their lives. Lithgow’s portrayal of Roberta adds warmth and humanity, and she later becomes deeply involved with Jenny’s feminist movement.
After returning to the United States, Garp and Helen marry and start a family, but their lives become increasingly complicated. Helen begins an affair with one of her students, Michael Milton, which leads to one of the film’s most shocking and tragic moments. During a late-night meeting, Garp drives with their young son to confront Helen, resulting in a devastating car accident that leaves their son, Walt, dead and severely injures others, forever altering the family dynamic.
The tragedy intensifies Garp’s fear of the dangers that threaten his loved ones, making him increasingly overprotective and anxious about the world around him. As his writing career gradually gains recognition, Jenny’s feminist movement also flourishes—particularly after she is assassinated by a disturbed follower during a public appearance. Her death further emphasizes the film’s themes of vulnerability and randomness.
In the film’s final act, Garp and his family strive to rebuild their lives. Roberta moves into Jenny’s home, which has now become a sanctuary for women. However, the sense of danger lingers, and ultimately, Garp himself becomes a victim of violence when he is shot by a radical extremist during a wrestling match.
The film concludes by reflecting on the lives of Garp and Jenny, highlighting the unpredictability of life, the fragility of happiness, and the lasting bonds of family. “The World According to Garp” intertwines humor and tragedy, portraying the absurdity and heartbreak of life while providing a compassionate look at flawed yet deeply human characters navigating an uncertain world.
