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Portfolio I.D: Cider House Rules
Answer the following questions in essay form, at least a paragraph for each question:
(1) Discuss characterization in Cider House Rules.
For example, Dr. Wilbur Larch saves and raises orphans from primarily unwed mothers unable to
care for their children, but performs abortions for those who don't want to carry the pregnancy to term.
He is a caring and nurturing "father," but uses ether to escape.
Mr. Rose is a good leader and teacher, yet has an incestuous relationship with his daughter.
Candy decides ends up having an affair with Homer, saying, "This is right. I'm not good at being alone... Wally knows that."
What is the author saying about these people, and by extrapolation, people in general?
Are they "good" or "bad"? Why? What do you think?
(2) What are some of the arguments for abortion and against abortion in the movie?
Think of examples from the movie, such as Rose's sadness at being pregnant,
but Candy's sadness after the abortion.
Homer's comment to Larch that, "You have to play god, but killing mice is as close as I want to come,"
contrasted with Larch's comment that, "I don't recommend -- I give them what they want. I'm not sorry
for anything I've done," and his other arguments and the example of the young girl who died. What do you think?
(3) What is the author's attitudes toward lying in the movie?
Think of examples in the movie; include also examples of lying "legally."
Dr. Larch falsifies Homer's credentials so Homer can
replace him as the orphanage doctor, but still, he has taught Homer the art of medicine and
declares Homer's procedure "near-perfect." Dr. Larch tells Homer, and the army, that
Homer's heart is defective so he can't be drafted, but it is Fuzzy's heart that the X ray shows.
Homer tells Curly that he's too special for those parents to want them; the boys are told
Fuzzy was adopted instead of that he died. A dying Mr. Rose tells Homer and the rest of the
workers to tell the police, "I did this to myself," after Rose Rose stabs him and runs off.
What do you think of these incidences of lying?
Are these good or bad? Why? Is lying ever "right" or better than not lying? If so, when and why?
(4) The Cider House Rules, which discuss such things as "no smoking in bed," "no eating lunch
on the roof," "no sleeping on the roof," are received by all members of the cider house as
meaningless, they laugh at them (while smoking in bed), and Homer incinerates them.
They say, variously, "That don't mean nothing at all, and all this time I been wondering about them,"
and "Someone who don't live here made those rules. Those rules aren't for us.
We're the ones supposed to make our own rules and we do it every single day."
What is the author of the book/movie saying about "rules" and "laws" and living
life with these words? What do you think?
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