Abstract This paper examines Ernest J. Gaines' novel "In My Father's House", the tale of Philip Martin, a minister and civil rights leader, a responsible husband and father and a pillar of the black community in a small, rural Louisiana town. Martin is forced to confront the sins of his past when the son he abandoned long before shows up in the town to seek revenge against the father he hates. This paper discusses how the story is not only about the reckoning of an individual human being with the wreckage of his past but also the story of the division between black fathers and black sons, a theme which is crucial to an understanding of this and other works by Gaines. It explores these aspects of the novel in the context of the painful beginning of the self-discovery of Martin in the novel.
From the Paper "Gaines portrays Martin not as an evil man, but as a man who is trying, both consciously and subconsciously, to redeem himself for his abandonment of his son, but what he has done has not healed his heart, or his son, or their relationship. The sins of his past were the sins of a young man, but clearly this rationale does not excuse him for those sins or exempt him from having to deal directly with those sins and the son against whom he committed them. Again, the essence of the story is the alienation of black father from black son, and only a direct confrontation can alter that alienation, although not necessarily for the better. After all, the son kills himself in the end of the book, so if there is any redemption it will come in the character of Martin. Despite the fact that Reverend Martin's last words to his wife are, "I'm lost, Alma. I'm lost," Alma restores hope for the future with the words, "We just go'n have to start again" (Gaines 214). "
Abstract This paper examines Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown," comparing the relationships of the protagonists with the father figures. The paper discusses the symbolic meaning of the father figures and the contrasts between the two stories involving either support or opposition to the father figure.
From the Paper "The relationships of the protagonists with their father figures in Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" are rich with symbolic meaning and pose an interesting contrast to one another. Whereas Kafka's protagonist labors to support and sustain his father, Hawthorne's protagonist is vehemently opposed to the father figure in the story, the devil and attempts to resist him."
Tags: Kafka, Hawthorne, The Metamorphosis , Young Goodman Brown , Bible, father, sin, hypocrisy
Abstract This essay discusses the impact that John Locke's second treatise had on our founding fathers of government. His emphasis on private property, liberty and the checks and balances of different branches of government were fundamental in shaping the views of the founding fathers.
Abstract This paper reviews six sources of information regarding the father-child attachment. More specifically, the paper reviews six articles on father-child attachment examining the nature of the attachment bond and how it differs from mother-child attachment.
From the Paper "The purpose of this paper is to review six sources of information about child-father attachment. Each article is selected for the relevance of its findings to the question, "what is the nature of the attachment bond between father and child and does it differ from the nature of the attachment bond between mother and child?" Each article is first presented in APA format, its reason for selection and relevance to the topic is then discussed and possible sources for the answers to..."
Abstract This paper first examines the differences in the perceptions of the role of the father in a family, between American and Russia cultures. The paper then discusses how may of the writer's father's values, beliefs and upbringing shaped his behavior and affect the way he behaves towards his children and family.
From the Paper "This is not to say my father was cold. Many Americans think of Russia only as a country of ice and snow, of Stalin or Putin or Tchaikovsky or Tolstoy, or Communism and the Cold War. Americans see Russians as old women with babushkas waiting in outdoor markets, or men with fur hats. My father does not fit that assumption. But then, his family followed him trying to come to America for a better life, a freer one. But, while children like me can assimilate easily, my father had great difficulties. And this problem causes us to be apart emotionally. There is a certain wall between us now because I am "American" and he is Russian in America."
Tags: family father russia communism, cold war, relationships assimilation
Abstract An examination of the literature which deals with divorce and single parenting. The writer shows that most of this literature is written from a female perspective. This paper analyzes the male perspective. It shows how men are misrepresented in the court system and how few single-parent families are headed by the father. The writer discusses what changes need to be made in the judicial and welfare systems.
From the Paper "Consider the comment below, made by a participant in a support group for non-custodial fathers in Toronto, Canada: There is a wide perception that we aren"t important, that we have a small role to play in our children's lives. In the legal system, we"re treated like enemies. On television, we?re bumbling fools like Homer Simpson. Few people take us seriously (Leving & Kenick, 1999). "
Abstract This paper looks at how both Charles Dickens, in his novel "Hard Times" and Abdullah Hussein, in his novel "Emigre Journeys", deal with the subject of fathers. It looks at how the family as a place of anguish as it is to be a place of refuge during hard times and how the two authors explore this dynamic in different contexts.
From the Paper "Both Charles Dickens in his novel Hard Times and Abdullah Hussein in his novel "Emigre Journeys" remind us of something that most of us already know but would like to forget which is the fact that during hard times the family is as likely to be a place of .."
Abstract The paper studies how Franklin's "Father Abraham's Speech" is concerned with the ideals of liberalism in the mid-eighteenth century America. The paper discusses that taxation was not as threatening to the individual's liberty as a lack of industry and frugality. The paper explains that by being industrious, any American could acquire wealth, and by being frugal and sensible, he could keep it. By winning and keeping it, he could ensure that he became wealthy and kept his personal freedom too.
From the Paper "Benjamin Franklin's "Father Abraham's Speech:" Considering the entire essay, including the introductory and concluding paragraphs, the central unifying idea of the piece "Father Abraham's Speech, or, The Way to Wealth" is how to honorably acquire wealth and keep it. According to "Poor Richard", even an ordinary laborer can acquire wealth, if he follows common-sense rules of conduct that have been understood (although not often followed) since ancient times. The enclosing structure of the essay sets the scene. First, Poor Richard, who was known to be Benjamin Franklin, was the editor of "Poor Richard's Almanac." An almanac would be as common a book in the households of the time as a Bible; it provided everyday advice about the weather, recipes and other down-to-earth, practical information. The pseudonym "Poor Richard" combines two opposites: "poor" and "rich"."
Abstract This paper explains that her father is much like the famous verse in 1 Corinthians that describes love. The writer relates the many beloved characteristics of her dad, such as being patient and kind and not being self-seeking or easily angered. Every night until she was in high school, the author remembers, her dad tucked her into my bed at night, laid his hand on her head and gave her a blessing from the Book of Numbers.
From the Paper "My dad is patient and kind. He is the best footsteps I have ever encountered. I am so incredibly comfortable talking to him. If I have a problem or something is conflicting in my heart, he gladly listens to all I have to say and tries to help me as much as he possibly can. He is so cuddly and affectionate. Whenever I see him, even if it's just while passing him in the house, he wraps his arms around me and holds me as if I was his baby again. When he comes home from work and sees my mother, he does the same and kisses her."
Tags: footsteps footsteps cuddly, earthly father, love
Abstract This well-researched paper analyzes the role and rights of the biological father in adoption proceedings, while drawing upon an examination of relevant case laws. This paper details the history of the adoption process which was legally recognized in the U.S. in the 1850s, with the inception of the first adoption statute. The writer of this in-depth paper examines the Supreme Court's recognition and willingness to recognize and expand the rights of biological fathers in cases of adoption and / or custody matters. This paper provides a general overview regarding the current status of unwed fathers' adoption rights. This paper examines California law pertaining to the rights of the biological father. This paper discusses California's current stance on the issue, which is that the courts utilize the best interests of the child standard when considering whether the biological father presents a substantial risk of detriment to the child's well-being. While the other hand, other courts have argued that the best interests of the child standard should no longer be the primary consideration in the determination of whether the court should terminate an unwed biological father's rights. This paper cites numerous case studies containing relevant information to this particular topic. This paper details the case of Pena vs. Mattox, in which the biological father argued that his due process rights were violated when his parental rights were terminated by the adoption of his child. The writer contends and explains why are there are no clear guidelines establishing how courts should decide adoption cases involving fathers' rights, and as a result these rights have slowly evolved in favor of the father.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
General Adoption Information / History
A Father's Constitutional Rights
California Courts & Adoption Law
Role of the Supreme Court & The Present Status of Biological Father's Rights
Future of the Adoption Process
Bibliography
Cases Cited
From the Paper "Whatever method courts decide to use, it is of paramount importance that these disputes be resolved in a quick and efficient manner. Dragging custody disputes out over long periods of time only serves to cause emotional harm to everyone involved, especially to the child whose future hangs in limbo while the case slowly moves through the courts. By implementing a uniform system of deciding these cases, forum shopping will be avoided. Consequently, multiple courts will no longer be asked to hear the same case, as happened in the Baby Jessica case. This will surely lead to faster adjudication and resolution of these disputes and, consequently, to less psychological trauma to the children caught in the middle."
Tags: rights, law, parent, child, legal, biological, adoption, case
A literature review on the subject of African-American fathers who have sole custody of their children. A comparison of the available literature for this group with those of other groups.
Abstract Men are increasingly receiving custody of their children, leading to an augmented rate of single-father families in the US. However, many observers are still under the impression that there are only a few custodial fathers; consequently, the existing data on this group is limited. This project is an analysis of the available literature on African-American fathers who have custody of their children. Considering there are a number of factors that lead fathers to become sole custodians, assist them in the process thereof, and resultant changes that occur both in their lives and the lives of their children, the following questions navigate this study: 1) How do African-American fathers become single parents? 2) What social networks are available to assist these fathers? 3) How does becoming sole custodians shape their lives?
Table of Contents
Introduction: African American Men & Society
Jennifer Hamer on Black Custodial Fathers ?Mothering,? Can He Do It?
How Do Fathers Become Custodial Parents?
What Social Networks are Available to Assist Single Fathers?
How Does Becoming Single Parents Shape Their Lives?
Conclusion
From the Paper "Traditional images of what an American family should be would include a father, mother and child (ren). National increases in divorce and non-marital childbearing in the United States have changed the face of the typical American family. This alteration in the nuclear family ushered in a new family model, the single parent or guardian (as they are sometimes termed). Single parents have become a major component within American culture, but much to the surprise of some researchers, it is not only women who are rearing today's youth. A growing number of fathers are assuming primary care of their children, but public policy/programs have not responded effectively to this phenomenon. Public ideas and images have given men the principles by which they should govern the way they speak, the way they look, the way they should respond to a given situation and how they should behave as fathers (Hamer, 2001). These standards have existed within American culture for decades and have made very little if any adjustment overtime. From the turn of the century to the 1970's "ideal" fathers were primarily perceived as warmhearted providers on whom all family members could depend (Hamer, 2001). In general, men were measured by their breadwinning role and the standard of living they were able to provide for themselves and their families."
Abstract This paper examines, through a literature review, the infant-father relationship. It looks at how most research has illustrated the importance of infant-mother relationship, without an equal consideration of the role of the father in infant-father relationships even though with the changing family structure and social beliefs, more fathers are spending time with their infants. It evaluates how expectant fathers want to be a part of the birthing experience and how the surge of interest by fathers has given rise to many studies that have sought to establish the impact of early father-infant bonding on their relationship later on.
From the Paper "The renewed scientific interest in the early seventies explored the stereotypical perception of fathers who were regarded as harsh disciplinarians and could not interact intimately with their infants (Rosenblith, 1992, p. 484). A study conducted on Australian fathers revealed that only 34 percent of the fathers believed that they could take care of their children (in Rosenblith, 1992, p. 484). However, another study revealed the complexity of some fathers? feelings toward these stereotypical notions. In the study, although most of the fathers? conceptions of their roles cohered with the stereotype, they also believed that fathers should be emotionally responsive and play with their infants (Rosenblith, 1992, p. 484). Therefore, even though they shared some stereotypical beliefs, they also possessed ideas that veer radically away from stereotype."
Abstract A paper which studies four poems - Lucille Clifton's ?Forgiving My Father?, Theodore Roethke's poem "My Father's Waltz" , Raymond Carver's "Photograph of my Father in his Twenty-Second Year" and Sylvia Plath's "Daddy" - and the poets' relationships with their fathers. The paper shows how the four poets have each tried to assess the essential relationships in their own childhood through exploration of the meaning of their interactions with their fathers. It discusses how in each of these poems there is a sense of loss or disappointment and a sense of anger as each poet considers the ways in which his or her father betrayed the child that they once were.
From the Paper "Too many parents, and we see this especially in Lucille Clifton's "Forgiving My Father" try to compensate later in life for what they did not do when their children were younger ? but this remains something that is almost impossible for the children to forgive. It is as if firefighters came to the scene of a disaster years after the family home had burnt to the ground ? pleading that they were busy doing more important things in the meantime ? and then wondered why it was that people were not grateful to see them still."
Abstract This paper describes three stories and how the Jungian archetype influences the story. The paper first discusses the Walt Disney movie, "Song of the South", explaining how the Jungian father archetype can be found in the story because there is an absent father that is replaced by another father figure. Next the paper discusses the European children's tale, "Max and Moritz" which is a cautionary tale about what happens to children that grow up without a father. Lastly, the paper discusses the story of "Cinderella", explaining that it is representative of the the father-as-lover archetype.
From the Paper "Historically, children's literature has always had a place in our lives. No matter how old we grow, we can relate many of our adult observations to the tales of our childhood. Having been fortunate to grow up in a family from two different cultures, I heard tales from old Europe from my Mother, and the rich tales of the southeastern United States from my Father. In considering Jung's theory of the archetype, there are three tales that come to mind. First, the movie "Song of The South", which tells stories of the South that my grandfather grew up in. Second, the tale of Max and Moritz, a cautionary tale for children told throughout Europe for hundreds of years. Finally, the classic "Cinderella" which, thanks to Disney, has become a favorite of all children born in the US in the last fifty years. These three tales all demonstrate the father archetype that Jung describes in "The Personal and the Collective Unconscious." These tales are classic examples of stories that appear in a variety of cultures, and all share a common thread- the absent father. Jung would have told us that the unconscious desire for someone to fill the archetypal role of father is at the root of all these tales. The absence of father theme in these three stories will show the human need for the archetypical father figure as nurturer, disciplinarian, and as lover."
Abstract In this essay, the writer discusses Shakespeare's work, while examining the way in which he portrays the relationship between fathers and daughters. The writer looks at the plays "King Lear" and "The Tempest," in which the daughters pursue a certain course in life due to their fathers' patriarchal actions. Further, the writer discusses the play "The Tempest," in which the character Miranda follows, although somewhat rebelliously, the eventually advantageous path set out by her father. The writer also looks at "Romeo and Juliet" in which the bonds between Juliet and her father appear to be much more loyalty bound than love oriented and patriarchy constraints are to the extreme. Using references from literature discussing Shakespeare's writings, the writer presents this view of the roles of fathers and daughters in Shakespeare's work.
From the Paper ""Romeo and Juliet" is naturally one of the first Shakespeare plays that comes to mind when considering the role of fathers and daughters, because of the work's popularity through the years with its many modern renditions. However the bonds between Juliet and her father appear to be much more loyalty and dutiful bound than love oriented, and patriarchy constraints are to the extreme. Although Cordelia does not actually say the exact words her father, Lear, wants to hear, it is because of love not fear. Likewise, Miranda and Prospero have a very loving father-daughter relationship from the very beginning of "The Tempest." Although "Romeo and Juliet" does definitely show how a daughter's actions are set in place by her father's behavior, "King Lear" and "The Tempest" are even more interesting due to the additional conflicting relationships that exist due to this strong love between father and child."
