Absent Fathers in Two Novels

Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts E. Nesbit's "The Story of the Treasure Seekers" and Brian Doyle's "Uncle Ronald", particularly with regards to the theme of the absent father. The paper points out that, on the surface, the books seem to have little in common. The paper adds that the former is a hard-hitting, realistic tale that most parents would have to think long and hard about, before reading it to their children, while the latter is a delightful tale where the unpleasant realities of life are merely hinted at. However, the paper asserts that the stories are similar in that they both deal at length with the issue of the absent father and that these largely absent fathers are crucial to the development of the protagonists of the books. The paper concludes that the main difference between the stories lies in the resolution of the problem of the absent father.

From the Paper:

"We thus come to the first clear commonality of the books. Young Mickey lacks a father because even though he is in the house, he does not play the role of a father. He is not a father to be loved and respected, but a pathetic tyrant to be feared and hated. Thus, although Mickey appears to have a father, to all intents and purposes he does not. His father is present in the sense of being physically there, but has no useful communication with his son, and plays no positive role in his life. Exactly the same could be said about Mr. Bastable. Although he is physically there, he has no useful communication with his children, and plays no positive role in their lives."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Doyle, Brian. Uncle Ronald. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1996.
• Nesbit, E. The Story of the Treasure Seekers. London: Ernest Benn Limited, 1963.

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