Today’s contest question:
In Pride & Prejudice, what do you think of Elizabeth Bennet’s slightly ramshackle dad, Mr. Bennet? I love him, maybe ’cause (no offense, Dad) my own dad is a bit ramshackle. Just a bit.
If you haven’t read P&P–or even if you have–in general, which fathers are your favorite portrayals in literature? Your least favorite? Movies and TV shows can apply here, too.
Fathers to consider:
Jim Anderson (Father Knows Best)
Richard Tiernan (Anne Stuart’s Nightfall)
Pere Goriot (Pere Goriot, duh)
Dr. Frankenstein (Frankenstein)
Devil Desmond (Loretta Chase’s Devil’s Delilah)
So–tell me what you think. Tell me about your own dad. Do you like Mr. Bennet, or do you think he could’ve been a bit more careful with his children (actually, you can like him and think he should’ve been more careful. I guess that’s what I think).
Megan
PS: Visit the A&E Store for info about the Special Box Set!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
–Looks Left. Looks Right–
Why am I the first to comment on both threads? I SWEAR I’m not stalking you.
My favorite P&P dad is from the 1995 version–he has a sparkle in his eye that Donald Suthreland seemed to be missing.
My favorite movie dad is Gregory Peck from To Kill A Mockingbird. So strong and calm and dear and gracious and kind.
My dad. Hmm. Well, he’s kind of like Grissom from CSI. But my dad wears suits more often. He’s a little (OK, maybe a lot) more formal and more self-effacing, or easily embarrassed. But my Dad is scarily smart and quiet like that character. And he assumes that of course you know everything there is to know, along with him, regarding whatever topic of conversation we’re engaged in. He always seems to be reminding you of the details which you just recently forgot about what Byron was reading just before he started on Don Juan. But, of course you knew that, right? Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before.
We CAN’T!! We try, but we CAN’T!!
Oh yes, Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird – loved him.
Indiana Jones’ father in the last movie – Sean Connery played him. I’m not sure it was because of how his son turned out or because he was just as funny.
Bill Cosby in the Cosby show although there were times that I started to squirm.
My dad.
People who meet him thinks he could be on the cover of GQ magazine. Yeah, he’s that handsome – he had ugly kids though
He was called Gentleman Bill at work because he always acted that way. Yet at home when we were kids he would think nothing of turning the power off in our home when my mom left to go where ever. Billy and I, of course would go and investigate and be scared out of our wits.
I think I told you about how if you ask him a question he always has an answer – you just have to decide if he is pulling your leg or telling you the truth.
He never laid a hand on us and could break our hearts with the words ‘I’m very disappointed in you.’
Now that I’m older I can see his flaws. He has a bit of a childish streak that flares up when he gets mad. He is so detail orientated that putting a nail in a wall to hang a picture can turn into an overnight ordeal. He can be human enough to enjoy when you are wrong and he is right although he just doesn’t realize that sometimes letting him ‘feel’ like he is right keeps us all sane.
Even so, I know he loves me and Billy and would do anything we ask of him. Man, I love him!
CindyS
HEY! (talking P & P is my favorite pattime!)
I loved Lizzie’s dad in the book, but more so the portrayal of him in the A&E version. Just sweet as pie. And funny!
Sutherland didn’t cut it for me. Too much mumbling to cover the fact he wasn’t faking a brit accent!
Which fathers are your favorite portrayals in literature? hmm have to think on this one and get back to you!
Your least favorite? Les Misreables’s Mr Theinardiay (sp?), though he really wasn’t Cosette’s dad … still he was horrid. Now that I think about it I suppose one of my favorite dad’s would then be Valjean!
On tv? Gotta be The Cos!
My Dad? Homer Simpson. HA!
My favorite father is Charles Philip Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. A brave man who was there for his family even during difficult times. My own dad has been a tremendous support to me in my life much like Charles.
I liked Mr. Bennet. I think sometimes children can be uncontrollable. lol He did his best.
Fred MacMurray, My Three Sons, was a good TV father. Not sure how well he would have done with a daughter though. I think Archie Bunker and Al Bundy fall on my least favorite list.