The Cider House Rules, 1999

May, 2023 | NAIA MCGINN

The Cider House Rules (1999) is based on John Irving's book published in 1985. The Cider House Rules tells the story of Homer an orphan boy who becomes the favorite of St. Cloud Maine’s orphanage Director Dr. Larch. Throughout the movie, Dr. Larch imparts his medical knowledge onto Homer which results in him becoming a skilled yet unlicensed physician. However, Homer yearns for a life he chooses, a life outside of the orphanage. When a young couple, Cindy and Wally visit the orphanage seeking an abortion. Dr. Larch provides a medically safe (yet illegal) abortion. Homer leaves with Wally and Cindy in order to work on Wally’s family's apple farm. Eventually, Wally leaves for war, causing Cindy and Homer to grow closer.  Homer also grows closer with the other workers on the farm who travel from place to place as the seasons change. After one winter when the workers return, Rose returns pregnant but can not have a child. Homer puts his feelings aside and performs his first abortion. Eventually, Wally returns from war, and Dr. Larch dies because of these factors Homer decides to return to St. Clouds in order to replace Dr. Larch as the head doctor. The book/film focuses heavily on the topic of self-discovery and abortion. The two ethical theories that fit these topics the best would be Kantian Ethics and Care Ethics.

Kantian ethics refers to a deontological ethical theory that was developed by the German Philosopher Immanuel Kant sometime around the 1780s. It is based on the notion that it is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will. A quote from the film that stands out and helps play into the idea of Kantian Ethics comes from Doctor Larch himself. “Homer, here in St. Cloud’s, I have been given the opportunity of playing God or leaving practically everything up to chance. Men and women of conscience should seize those moments when it’s possible to play God.” I choose to quote this specifically because Dr. Larch is acting out what he sees as good-will by performing these illegal abortions. This is because it is what each woman that comes to see him wants and they are jumping at the opportunity to have a safe abortion that isn’t going to put them at risk. Dr. Larch isn’t playing God he is just using his skills and intelligence to assist the person to play God. However, depending on your own personal beliefs you can see Larch’s character in one of two ways. A good person who is just giving someone a safe option to do something that is illegal or a bad person who is killing people. 

Care Ethics is a normative ethical theory that holds that the moral action and centers it on an interpersonal relationships and care or benevolence as a virtue. It was created sometime between the 1970s and 1980s and the purpose of this ethical theory is it seeks to maintain relationships by contextualizing and promoting the well-being of caregivers and care receivers in a network of social relations. Both Dr. Larch and Homer have two prominent examples of Care Ethics. In the case of Homer, we see throughout the movie his character grows from someone who refuses to perform an abortion because he sees it as immoral but doesn’t have an issue when someone else in this case Dr. Larch performs them. To performing abortions on his own, Homer puts asides his own morals and values in order to help take care of someone he knows and cares about. Care Ethics also ties into the character of Dr. Larch because of his love for Homer. However, despite his love and care for the boy, he does not want to see him go off into the real world. Dr. Larch knows that Homer cannot take care of everyone out in the world because that is not how the world works. But it isn’t until one of the other caretakers at the orphanage tells Dr. Larch that Homer needs to go out and see the world does he finally accepts that Homer no longer needs his care. Dr. Larch finally understands that Homer needs to go out and learn not only about himself but the world. Even despite this newfound understanding, Dr. Larch doesn’t completely change his ways because he still wants Homer to take over as head Physician when he either passes or is forced into retirement by the board of directors at the orphanage. He even goes so far as to fake a medical degree for Homer and a long resume of remarkable achievements.

Kantian and Care Ethics once again ties perfectly into this book to movie adaption, which talks about the serious topic that is abortion. But not only that it also shows us the growth of different types of people through both these ethical theories in one way or another. The film gives everything such a unique approach to the topics that are tackled and leaves you thinking and questioning your own personal morals. It also shows that not only do people grow but as they learn their morals can very much grow and change as do their opinions and approach to certain topics.