Esther strongly identifies with Queen Esther of the Hebrew Bible, believing that it links her to her Jewish heritage. How does the novel examine the idea of heritage more generally, and the influence of the past on the present in the lives of the characters?

The novel often invokes antisemitism and its terrible effects on the lives of Jewish people like Esther. How does the novel expose the dangers and impacts of prejudice and persecution? How does it contrast hatred with love and acceptance?

Hard Rain, the German Shepherd, functions as an important element in the novel. What qualities or lessons does the dog signify for Jimmy and his friends?

Two wars appear as important background in the novel: World War II, and the Vietnam War. How do these conflicts impact the characters? How does the novel examine the relationship between broader sociopolitical events and individual lives?

Examine the novel’s exploration of love and sexuality. How do the characters experience love and sex in different ways? What does the novel suggest about the nature of love and sexuality?

Analyze the impact of setting in the novel, such as Pennacook, Vienna, or Jerusalem. How are these settings described? What is their wider significance in the text?

Esther wants the following quote from Jane Eyre tattooed on her chest: “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself” (71). How does this quote reflect key aspects of her characterization and character arc in the text?

John Irving has written 16 novels so far, including The Cider House Rules. What key themes and ideas does Queen Esther share with some of his other major works?