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The Cider House Rules

In the film no background information was given on Dr. Larch, so we really knew nothing about the character accept that he was a doctor at St. Clouds. Also in the novel Dr. Larch lives to be in his 90's and Homer doesn't return home to St. Clouds until he was in his 40's. In the film Homer returns to St. Clouds a little over a year later and Dr. Larch dies in his late 60's. .
             These changes have supported the fact that the novel focuses more on character development, coming of age issues and generational issues. The film focuses more on discipline and the breaking of rules. In the film there is a rule broken in almost every scene. Also keep in mind that the movie revolves around abortion in a time when it was illegal. .
             Many different symbols were found throughout the novel and film which contained lots of darker inner meanings. For both the novel and film the main symbol and probably the most obvious was the rules posted in the cider house. The rules symbolized that some people take rules at face value and never question them, while others completely ignore the rules and make their own. The inner meaning to this is about choice. The rule makers have the luxury of enforcing rules on others from a distance with out understanding their situation. .
             The apples are also a symbol in the film more than the novel due to imagery. The apple symbolizes the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden. The inner meaning of this symbolic apple is the forbidden sexuality and the consequences that comes with it. In the film Candy has a come-hither look on her face as she bites into the forbidden apple. In another scene Homer is shown how to pick apples from a tree which symbolizes his sexual initiation. Both Homer and Candy knew that their affair was forbidden in both the novel and film yet the both of them pursued it anyway. .
             The three taboos of the film and novel were illegal abortion, incest, and the unfaithfulness of wives or girlfriends of the serving soldiers away at war.


Essays Related to The Cider House Rules

1. Conformity and Critical Thinking

... The film The Cider House Rules focuses on various themes such as murder, lust, abortion and incest. However, abortion is a dominant theme throughout the film and it manifests itself through Larch, who procures abortion for women. Larch teaches his mentee, Homer, to procure abortions for women. However, Homer is against the idea and does not want to follow the ways of Larch, his mentor. Homer leaves the ... my perspective. There are cultures that accept abortion and these cultures would argue why they practice abortion. However, I do not agree with such cultural beliefs because my culture...

  • Word Count: 907
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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