Comparative of a Widow for One Year and the Cider House Rules

John Irving, the author of the novels the Cider House Rule and A Widow for One Year focuses on the theme of motherhood through the description of the main characters. Children who experience parental negligence especially from their mothers are unable to make solid decisions in their lives. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparative of a Widow for One Year and the Cider House Rules specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Mother is the backbone of every family; consequently, children who grow up without mothers end up having tough times in adulthood, as it is the case in the two novels. Irving focuses on failed motherhood either before or after the birth of the children. In the Cider House Rule, Homer Wells undergoes awful ordeals during his childhood which forces him into an Orphanage called St. Paul. Surprisingly, Homer comes to the orphanage when he is still an infant. He does not know his mother’s whereabout s; he simply tries effortlessly to live with four foster families. While under foster care, Homer has never known how it feels to be happy. Similarly, Ruth Cole does not have a happy childhood after the death of her two siblings; her mother neglects her parental duties. In addition, her parents have frequent fights, which lead to divorce. In the two cases, there is evident failed motherhood and the two kids; Homer and Ruth, experience this unfortunate failure. Dr. Larch parents only tolerated to remain in marriage for the marriage was void of love. His mother does not care about her son’s wellbeing; she is rarely at home, because her job is perhaps more important; her family more so her son comes second or third in her priorities. Interestingly, when her husband brings the young Larch a prostitute as a present for passing exams well, she does not object. Ruth experiences the same neglect just like Larch; her mother does not love her and its not surprising when she eventuall y leaves Ruth under the care of her father. Regrettably, the issue of failed motherhood paints the picture of current parents who leave their children under the care of either teachers or house helps to pursue their dreams. After growing to become a doctor, Dr. Larch bases his career on abortion; he simply lacks no respect for human life courtesy of poor parentage. Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Talking of abortion, the author highlights the failure of some mothers, who respect not their unborn children; abortion to them I a common thing. Additionally, in Larch’s neighborhood, most mothers are the oldest professionals in the world; prostitutes. Besides prostitution being ‘unethical’ though controversial, the fruits are repugnant. These ‘professionals’ conceive children they cannot raise and thus abortion becomes the last resort; unfortu nately, some mothers die in the process of abortion; what a piteous way of living. On the other hand, Ruth witnesses the painful death of a prostitute in one of the red districts; statistics and conventional knowledge attribute prostitutes to failed motherhood. The comparative element in the novels is the theme of motherhood. In both books, the role of mother is in the society goes unfulfilled. Consequently, the main characters like Ruth, Larch and Homes are unable to make standing decisions in their lives due to poor motherhood. Children need mother’s guidance as they grow for life issues might be confounding even to the wise and children needs guidance to know what decisions to make under what situations. Irving goes further to highlight the detrimental effects children incur when parents neglect their duties and the product of the same. In conclusion, conflicts from either marriage or poor relationship cause loss of life and heart breakage of the children. The two books comparatively highlight parenthood, especially motherhood and its significance in the society. Finally, Irving is able to enlighten the society about the expectations of a mother. This essay on Comparative of a Widow for One Year and the Cider House Rules was written and submitted by user Amos Rollins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Comparative Of A Widow For One Year And The Cider House Rules Introduction John Irving’s stories â€Å"A Widow for One Year† and â€Å"The Cider House Rules† are similar in a number of ways. These major similarities are evident through the characters of Homer Wells and Ruth Cole.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparative Of A Widow For One Year And The Cider House Rules specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Despite the stories having differences in terms of setting, the plots and other aspects, the characters of Homer Wells and Ruth Cole are modeled by the author in such a way that they make the stories bear similarities that can never be overlooked. The protagonists, Homer Wells and Ruth Cole from ‘’Cider House Rules’ and ‘A Widow for One Year’ respectively stand out as faultless, unwanted children, misunderstood by others, and having suffered rejection in their childhood based on abandonment by their parents. They are bot h abandoned children The â€Å"Cider House Rules† portrays Homer Wells, the protagonist, as one of the children who find themselves in an orphanage following the abandonment by their parents. As a young man, Homer Wells is compelled to live in the St. Clouds orphanage when he experiences different treatments from different foster families. He actually suffers from depression after undergoing a tough treatment in the third family that has adopted him. Ruth Cole in â€Å"A Widow for one Year† also undergoes rejection as a child whereby her mother Marion seems so much occupied with mourning her dead sons to recognize the presence of her young daughter. Marion says, â€Å"If I let myself love Ruth†¦what will I do if something happens to her† (Irving, ‘A Widow for one Year’ 68). She further lacks attention from her parents when they separate at the age of four. Being born because of the urge to replace the lost sons, Ruth does not receive proper att ention from her parents and as a result, depression sets in following the treatment she receives. The circumstances of their birth are similar- unwanted The two characters are similar in that they are unwanted children who are forced to live with stigma because of the consequences that led to their prospective births. For instance, Homer Wells is as a result of the exploitation of women in St. Clouds and her would be parents could not take the responsibility of bringing him up.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He seems therefore left in the mercies of well-wishers, who adopt him majority of whom mistreat him in the process. He lives a life without knowing what people really expect out of him although he tries his best to impress his foster parents and be of use to them. He lives with the pain of knowing that his parents could not take the responsibility and that he was dif ferent from other children. This is evident where at the Drapers an elderly boy wanted to bugger him and instead it was him who was accused of the offence considering that he was only ten years old (Irving, ‘Cinder House Rules’ 50). Ruth Cole on the other hand is born out of the urge to replace the two elder brothers who died in a fatal motor accident. She therefore however living with her real parents fails to get the attention that a child would require to lead a full life. She witnesses things that she cannot stand at her age. When â€Å"she’d been sick with the stomach flu, her father had encouraged her to vomit in a towel† (Irving, ‘A Widow for on year’ 45). For instance, she realizes that despite always occupied with grief over her dead sons, her mother was having an affair with the family aide Eddie. She leads an unstable childhood just like Homer wells but eventually makes it in life. Others misunderstand the two The two characters see m focused and try to be of use to the people around them as well as their surroundings. For instance, as a child Homer wells wants to be of use to the families that has adopted him only for it to expose him to mistreatment and misunderstanding. For instance, the first family that adopts him ends up returning him just because he is too quiet and calm. This according to Homer is the thing that most parents would require of their children. â€Å"The second family ends up turning him into the worst screamer of the town after they were fed up with his silence and decided to force him into crying† (Irving , ‘Cinder House Rules’ 68). When he turns into crying every time, they end up returning him to St. Clouds. Despite his urge to be of use to the families that adopt him, Homer Wells grows up confused as to what to do in order to be of use to the people around him. Ruth Cole also despite having a clear focus in life meets many huddles that prove difficult to overcome fo r a child her age. She overcomes the challenges and excels in life.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparative Of A Widow For One Year And The Cider House Rules specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The two are without fault As portrayed by Irving in the two separate stories, the two characters are without fault, which makes the readers and their fans often sympathize with them and adore their characters. Because of constantly being victims of circumstances in their lives, the two characters are not exposed roundly in that they are not viewed to posses any negative traits. Homer is innocent and suffers at the hands of the people who ought to take care of him as a child. He suffers because of misunderstandings that exist between him and his foster parents. Ruth is also portrayed as perfect in that she is described as â€Å"beautiful, funny, and athletic and bears no negativity despite the rough childhood that she we nt through† (Irving, ‘A Widow for one Year’ 230). Therefore, based on the expositions of the paper, the protagonists of the masterworks seem similar based on the various parameters afore-discussed. Works Cited Irving, John. A Widow for One Year. New York: Random House, 1998. Print. Irving, John. The Cider House Rules. New York: Random House, 1985. Print. This essay on Comparative Of A Widow For One Year And The Cider House Rules was written and submitted by user Iker Klein to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.