The Cider House Rules

The film Cider House Rules follows Homer Wells (played by Tobey Maguire), an orphan, journey from the orphanage in St. Clouds, Maine to a new world at the apple orchard owned by the Worthington family. Cider House Rules teaches the audience both the pros and cons of breaking the rules and the importance of friends and family,
Breaking the rules first appears in the concept of the orphanage itself. An orphanage contains two types of children: those whose parents have died and have no one else to take care of them and those whose parents have given them up as they did not want them. The parents who have given up their child have abandoned and therefore broken their rights as parents to care for the child they brought into the world. Harsh outcomes …show more content…
Cider House Rules breaks those preconceived notions through the relationships of Wally (played by Paul Rudd) and Candy (played by Charlize Theron) and Homer and Candy. When we first meet Wally and Candy in the film, they are driving to the orphanage giving the audience the thought that they would be adopting a child. Even Curly believes that they are looking to adopt stating to Candy and Wally that he was “the best one” to adopt. They do not match that of a group of people who gets an abortion. Wally is dressed in his Army Air Corps suit driving a luxurious car and Candy’s beauty renders the children speechless. This breaks the rule of having kids even though they are in a loving relationship. When Wally is away at war, this brings Candy and Homer closer together. They begin an affair which affects the relationship between Candy and Wally. Another preconceived notion of our society is that while the significant other is away at war, the woman is suppose to stay by their side faithfully. Instead of waiting for Wally, Candy does not and through starting a relationship she breaks the rules of being a loyal partner. The migrant workers are aware of this and when Homer tries to confront Mr. Rose, Mr. Rose tells Homer he has his own “mess to deal”. Homer and Candy soon fall in love and are enjoying …show more content…
Homer’s friends consisted of Wally, Candy, and all the migrants working with him at the Cider House. Homer proves to be a loyal friend to those around him not shaming Wally or Candy in their choice to abort their child like many would do back in the day. Homer even makes sure that Candy is okay afterward giving her advice on how to handle the cramps she was experiencing. Homer also proves to be open minded when Rose Rose was impregnated by Mr. Rose and he offered to carry out an abortion for her instead of calling out Mr. Rose on his actions, Although Homer first refused the idea of performing abortions claiming to Dr. Larch that it was “illegal” when it came time he performed the abortion to help his friends. Wally even states when he first introduced Homer to his mother as a “friend of everybody”. Homer’s friends influence his views of the new world he has stepped into. Wally gives Homer his first actual job working as an apple picker in a who’s bright and vibrant setting that contrasted with dull St. Cloud. Candy also introduces Homer to things such as movies, expanding his watchlist from more than the film King Kong that was played regularly at the orphanages, and showing him the way of love. While Homer enjoyed his life at the Worthington’s apple orchard, he returns home to St. Cloud after the death of Dr. Larch, who acted as the father figure in not only his