Atticus Finch
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a logical starting point when discussing literary fathers. After all, Atticus Finch is a man who many consider to be a model dad. A widower with two young children, he parents and imparts life lessons to his children through both his words and the example his actions set. He treats others with dignity, whether or not they show themselves deserving of it. Atticus Finch is a man of integrity. He chooses right over wrong, truth over popularity, even stating, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”Bob Cratchit
In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we see another example of a noteworthy father. Bob Cratchit is positioned as the model lower-class dad. He works in dismal conditions for Ebeneezer Scrooge and takes his measly paycheck home to his family each week. The family is described as happy and content. He models gratefulness, despite not having much. And when Scrooge visits the family on Christmas, he observes Cratchit going so far as to defend his greedy boss to Mrs. Cratchit. Dickens writes Cratchit with hardly a fault to be found. Perhaps it is an unattainable characterization, but as a result, it’s hard to argue with the character being a good dad.Mr. Bennet
While his spunky daughter Elizabeth rightly takes center stage in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet is a fascinating father-figure in his own right. He’s aloof but lovable. Spending years under the same roof as Mrs. Bennet and dealing with her “nerves” understandably made him a little reclusive when it came to his family. This is seen in its greatest magnitude when Lydia runs away after he granted her the freedom to follow the militia. But, he seems to acknowledge and own his errant ways. And, of course, Lizzy loves him, so we must, too.King Lear
Shakespeare provided readers with numerous compelling characters from star-crossed lovers and feuding families to one of the baddest dads of them all: King Lear. Oh, King Lear. He must fall into the “less-than-admirable father” category. After all, it was his vanity that inspired him to force his three daughters to prove how much they loved him in order to earn a share of his kingdom. When his youngest, and most favorite, daughter refused to play his game, rather than reevaluate his motives and determine the best course of action, he banishes her. Not smart, King Lear, not smart at all.
Thomas Schell
The theme of family is prevalent in Jonathan Safran Foer’s Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Narrated by nine-year-old Oskar Schell, the story begins following his father’s death during the attacks of September 11. Despite Thomas Schell’s lack of physical appearance in the novel, he drives much of the storyline. We know that Oskar loved his father, and Thomas encouraged Oskar’s adventurous spirit. Their relationship and his previous expeditions led Oskar to undertake the quest of the key. Thomas Schell is an intriguing character, one who we’re left longing to have had the opportunity to meet.Other Notable Father Figures
Because it's impossible to stop at just five:
J.K. Rowling’s Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter series.
Louisa May Alcott’s Mr. March in Little Women
Victor Hugo’s Jean Valjean in Les Miserables
