Interesting that super heroes, ingenues, moms and even pets take the literary stage most often. Think about it — how many great stories are really about the dads?
In truth, tales of old typically used “bad dads” to get to those inciting incidents. After all, there’d be no Cinderella or Snow White without a dumb dad. Ditto Romeo and Juliet and a wealth of other Shakespeare tragedies.
Well, here’s my (very) short list of books with great dads… even if they’re not always the starring role; they’re key to the stories. Add to it please with your own favorite fathers in literature… And by all means, if a dad plays a starring role in your book, we definitely want to hear about it!
Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird: Atticus is the best bad ass dad ever, holding true to his principles and teaching them to his children even in the face of adversity.
Bob Cratchit, A Christmas Carol: What an example ol’ Bob sets for Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the rest of us…
Vito Corleone, The Godfather: Okay, so maybe not aces in integrity tests, but there’s something to be said for family loyalty when it comes to Don Corleone, eh?
Gerald O’Hara, Gone with the Wind: Scarlett might be the most spoiled daughter in literary history, but in the end the lessons of her father were the ones that stuck… And we certainly got to see Rhett as the doting dad, too!
Wishing you all a very Happy Fathers Day!
More than what Ernest Hemingway, Islands in the Steams did, he went further to do “his happier relations with his sons,” described by Biographer Terry Mort. Beside this non-fiction “The Hemingway Patrols: Ernest Hemingway and the Hunt for U-Boats,” my repeat reading in “The Streams” novel Papa Hemingway surely have went into fathering role without having trouble being “El Papa.”
Being painter Thomas Thomas Hudson had 3 sons coming over from the States and into tranquil island due east of Miami, Florida. Smooth like fish oil, he and his entourage hop aboard a fishing boat and took the boys out to the sea and taught them how to fish. At end of that “Bimini” (part 1 of the novel), true to symbolism of spilled custody, Thomas received tragic news on 2 of his children after they returned to care of their mother.
Also with “Old Man and the Sea” Santiago told the young boy, Mandolin, that his parents are right to forbidden him going out to the sea. Acting of Grandfathering role Santiago promised the young boy for future trip together, that he should listen what his parents’ instruction, and await for “Old Man” return from the Sea.
Fascinating – thanks for sharing this! Write on…