Theme Analysis of "The Cider House Rules"

The movie's theme explores "humanity and rules". It explains how human beings responds when given a set of rules. These rules are laid out to govern people's actions. The acceptance and non-acceptance of these rules come with responsibilities and making choices.

   Metaphorically, the title "The Cider House Rules" implies "the rules of the society". The cider house deals with processing of apples into Apple cider. Thematically, this refers to nurturing and caring for children to be fit for the society. As seen when Mr. Rose
was tutoring Homer on the "Apple business".

    "Right now, you are picking mostly Cider Apples. See all these drops here, they good only for cider, plus you picking the apple with the stem only half the time. Golden Rule, Homer, you wanna pick the Apple with the stem. Now you see that there? that right there is the bud for next year's apple. That's called spur. Pick the spur, you pcking two years in one. You are pickingnext year's Apple, before it has the chance to grow. So, you wanna leave that on the branch yeah?"

Thematically, this explores the major issue in the movie, Rules are made, "Golden Rules"- care and nurture a child to be of use to the society. "Pick the spur... you picking next year's apple before it has the chance to grow". - Aborting a baby is "taking life away from the child before it actually grows". So, it's better to allow these kids to be born. In a case where a couple or a lady are not socially, psychologically, and financially ready (Responsible) for the baby. It is the responsibility of these individuals to decide what to do about the rule, so it becomes a question of free will (choice).


Metaphorically, "Apple" refers to individuals that make up the society. As seen in the movie, when Wally's mom asked Mr. Rose "How's this crew this year? You got any rotten apples? "Cider" refers to Tribes.

A novel, written by John Irving.