The Cider House Rules details the life of Homer Wells from his birth (1920s) into his 30s. Throughout his life, the rule that Homer lives by is that he should be of use. As a youth, he is constantly of use at the orphanage, taking on greater and greater responsibilities. Finally, he is given the choice to have the ultimate responsibility, giving and taking life, as an obstetrician and an abortionist. This is the first choice that Homer has in his life. Up until this point, the isolation of St. Cloud's has afforded Homer very few choices. He had only one choice of companionship: Melony. He had only choice of occupation: a doctor. And he had only one choice as to the type of medicine he would practice: obstetrics. But, Homer realizes that he does have a choice in performing abortions. It is at this time that Homer's rule as to what is defined as being of use differs from Dr. Larch's view. Homer does not see the killing of human life as being of use. Homer chooses to not perform abortions and lives by this choice for over 15 years. During this time, Homer solidifies his own view that Larch's products of conception has a soul. As an orphan, it is the only thing he was given: his life. But, despite his strong convictions, Homer is tolerant of Larch's view. He finds no fault in what Larch does, and he places no blame with Larch. He acknowledges and accepts the difference of opinion.
Homer's belief that abortion is wrong coupled with his tolerance of Larch's belief that abortion is not wrong shows how complex the issue of abortion is. The complexities of the abortion debate are also symbolized in the triangular relationship between Homer, Candy, and Wally. The abortion debate has sides: staunch pro-lifers, adamant pro-choicers, and those who are against abortion but believe that under certain circumstances, such as rape, incest, or endangerment of the mother's life, that abortions can be performed. The complexities play out in the relationship between these three characters. Homer loves both Candy and Wally. He loves Candy enough to continue an intimate relationship with her even after she marries Wally. He loves Wally enough that he believes that hiding the truth from him protects him. Abortion is not simply a medical procedure, but a social and ethical issue that affects the moral fiber of those involved. The relationships between Homer, Candy, and Wally depict the complexity of this issue.
It is an issue that Homer perhaps never truly resolves. In the last chapter, Homer decides that he can perform abortions, that he can accept the ultimate responsibility for choosing life or death. But, Homer qualifies that choice to the board when he states, as Fuzzy Stone, that if abortions were legal, he would not perform them because it is against his conscious. In the end, Homer determines that the best way he can be of use is to use his skills to deliver women and children who otherwise would have no choice.
In the end, Homer has the choice to be a hero, not only to Rose and
other women, but to Angel and to himself. Whether I shall turn out to
be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody
else, these pages must show. Homer realizes that the choice on how he
lives and how he is of use is truly up to him.
Dr. Larch's actions are driven by the rules he has in regards to abortion and orphans. The loveless marriage between Larch's parents; his first sexual encounter, which resulted in his contracting gonorrhea; and the deaths of two women in need of an abortion shape the rules that Larch creates for himself.
The first rule Larch adopts is a life of sexual abstinence. This rule allows him to take the position of doctor in the isolation of St. Cloud's. Leading a life of sexual abstinence deters Larch from wanting to be a part of a traditional family. This allows him to create a family with the nurses and orphans at St. Cloud's.
Larch's second rule is that women should have the opportunity for a safe abortion. Larch believes the state does not have the right to control a woman's body. He believes the right to choose belongs to women. This rule allows Larch to view the Devil's work, performing abortions, and the Lord's work, delivering babies, as one in the same. Larch states to Homer that he gives the woman what she wants: an orphan or an abortion. It is interesting to note that in this statement Larch takes no responsibility. He leaves all the responsibility in the hands of the woman. It is the woman's choice not his. Larch is simply being of use. In regards to abortion, Larch's only responsibility is the one he takes for breaking the law. He takes this responsibility so seriously that he creates fictions to protect himself and the women whom he is serving. He manipulates the board so that he can continue to break the law. And he debates the moral and ethical issues of abortion with Homer, in the hopes of convincing Homer to break the law as well.
Lastly, Larch lives by the rules he has for the orphans in his care. Larch believes that orphans should have a fresh start when they are adopted, so their birth names are dropped. Larch believes that knowing about their birth mothers would be detrimental to the orphans so he refuses to keep records on the women that come to the orphanage. Larch also believes that orphans need routine and security. His daily actions and how he runs the orphanage are intended to foster this environment. For example, he promises the children will be read to every night, and he makes sure that promise is fulfilled. Larch also tries very hard to make sure orphans are adopted before they become teenagers so that they will learn how to love and be loved, rather than to live in a world of deceit that an orphan can easily create for himself. Larch takes seriously his responsibility to the orphans under his care, and the rules by which he runs the orphanage reflect that.
The weight of his responsibilities and the weight of the rules Larch
creates for himself make Larch a worrier. Larch knew he could only control
the world of St. Cloud's and that there was a rest of the world,
beyond his control. Irving states that Larch and Olive as well feared
this other world so much: they fully understood that, despite their considerable
efforts, they were only marginally in control of the worlds of their own
delicate making. Larch does everything in his power, sometimes with the
help of ether, from performing abortions to grooming his replacement to
creating fictional histories in order to control his world and to make
sure he is able to live up to his own rules.
Melony is the character with the clearest sense of purpose. She is decisive in all circumstances and executes her decisions with a quickness no other character has. She is the foil to Homer and Candy. For instance, Melony determines early in her relationship with Homer that she wants an everlasting bond to exist between them. She makes him promise to never leave. When he does, she decides to follow him. Even when she gives up searching for Homer and agrees to be faithful to Lorna, she maintains the ideal of Homer. He remains her hero until she finds out about his living circumstances with Angel, Candy, and Wally. When she realizes that Homer is not the hero she thought he was, she quickly decides he's a creep. She doesn't allow him to justify his actions. She doesn't find away to rationalize his behavior. Her perception of Homer instantly changes and she maintains that perception. This is in contrast to Homer, who takes over 15 years to decide that he can perform an abortion. It is also in contrast to Candy, who lives by the wait and see rule, when it comes to making decisions about her own feelings.
It is interesting to note that despite all of Melony's flaws, Homer
refers to her as the true educator. It is Melony's frankness about her
disapproval with his lifestyle that is the catalyst for Homer deciding
that he and Candy must tell the truth. But unlike Melony and her quickness,
Homer waits another six weeks before acting upon this decision. Melony,
after coming to such a realization, would have acted on her decision immediately.
Melony's strength lies not in her physical makeup but in her strong and
exacting character.
Candy is another of Irving's strong female figures. In some ways, Candy is very decisive, but in some circumstances, Candy lives by the wait and see rule. It is Candy who convinces Wally that they are not ready to have a child when she becomes pregnant the first time. A child didn't fit into their perfect plans, and Candy decides that having an abortion does. It is also Candy who decisively refuses to marry Wally before he goes to war, stating she would be Wally's wife not his widow. However, Candy prefers to wait and see under some circumstances. Her love for both Wally and Homer is so conflicting that she refuses to make a decision between them. Though, she decides to marry Wally when he returns, she also still carries on an intimate relationship with Homer. She continues to love both.
It is not until Homer forces her hand and insists they tell Wally and Angel
the truth that she decides to choose Wally. That is, if they tell the
truth, Homer has to leave. Candy controls many of the day-to-day activities
of her family. Wally, at one point, says she is manipulative, that she
is the one in their family that knows what to do, that she makes the decisions,
and that she's always got a point. However, Candy is indecisive when her
feelings are involved. Through Candy, Irving shows that feelings muddy
the waters. It is easy to make decisions for others and when you are able
to put others feelings first. She decides to protect the feelings of Wally
and Angel, rather than deal with her feelings. With Candy's first pregnancy,
she didn't view that child insider her as having feelings. She never speaks
of its soul or killing it. So she is able to make a decision to abort
it. But when it comes to choosing between Homer and Wally, when it comes
to sorting out her own feelings and making a choice, Candy would rather
wait and see then make a decision. Candy shows that relationships are
complex as her own feelings are complex. It is easier to be decisive in
some relationships and with others than it may be for oneself.
Clapsaddle, Diane. "TheBestNotes on A Long Way Gone".
TheBestNotes.com.
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