Today, we celebrate our fathers. I am very thankful for my father and for all the advice that he has given me over the years. Not only has he consistently shown love, discipline, and kindness towards my brothers and me, but he has modeled for us what a father should be and do.
But my flesh-and-blood father is not the only one who has taught and instructed me over the years. Being an avid reader, I have encountered many great fathers in literature, dads who have taught me some very important lessons.
For example, there is Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, who is a model of integrity as he defends the wrongly accused Tom Robinson. His compassion, honesty, and morality are on full display for his children throughout the book as he pursues truth and justice.
Bob Cratchit from Dicken’s A Christmas Carol is another literary father-figure worthy of emulation. Bob works for little pay and is treated poorly, yet he does not complain. He is a humble worker, father, and husband remains kind despite the abuse he experiences at the hands of Scrooge.
Another literary character that offers the reader a healthy picture of fatherhood is Mr. Weasley from Harry Potter. He is a devoted father, ideal in some ways, who displays wisdom, at times, treats his kids (and Harry) with kindness and with respect. He is a father figure to Harry, for certain, as Harry reflects on his comments and advice on occasion.
Then, there’s Mr. Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Terribly sarcastic and critical, Bennet makes fun of his wife often, and fails to provide for his children’s future. He is somewhat lazy and weak. It may be argued that there are a few redeemable qualities about Mr. Bennet. First, despite being in a bad marriage, he does not leave. Second, he is actively involved as a father—for better or for worse. Third, he loves his daughters.
It seems clear that Austen does not intend for the reader to respect Mr. Bennet, who is never given a first name, by the way. Instead, I think she intends for us to identify with him in some way, either as an imperfect father (as all of us fathers are), or, as a child of an imperfect, flawed father who struggles to get out of his own way. Either way, Austen gives us much to ponder about what it means to be a father through this character.
Other literary fathers that have something to offer the reader include: Jean Valjean (Les Miserables), William Danny (The Champion of the World), Papa Berenstain (The Berenstain Bears books), and even “the man in the yellow hat” (Curious George).
So, what do you think? Got a favorite father in literature? Let me know in the comments.
And, to all the wonderful fathers out there: Happy Father’s Day!
Photo By Universal Pictures – eBay, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67270089