Two dead father figures too many?

[Joe Washington]

I’m thinking of killing off two father figures in two different parts of a story I’m writing. They both die differently but I’m thinking that there may be something off about it and it could project a negative message to the readers. What do you think? Two dead father figures too many?

 

[OmahaStar]

http://trekbbs.com/forumdisplay.php?f=18

You're welcome.

 

[Hermiod]

I’m thinking of killing off two father figures in two different parts of a story I’m writing. They both die differently but I’m thinking that there may be something off about it and it could project a negative message to the readers. What do you think? Two dead father figures too many?

One is too many. It'd be nice to see someone who has a healthy relationship with their father for a change.

Most fictional dads are absent, abusive or dead.

 

[David cgc]

Well, it's a hero's journey thing. The mentor has to die (or be removed somehow) so the protagonist can come into his own.

 

[RandyS]

I’m thinking of killing off two father figures in two different parts of a story I’m writing. They both die differently but I’m thinking that there may be something off about it and it could project a negative message to the readers. What do you think? Two dead father figures too many?

One is too many. It'd be nice to see someone who has a healthy relationship with their father for a change.

Most fictional dads are absent, abusive or dead.

True, but a "father figure" is more relatable to most of our generation. I myself grew up with my grandfather (mom's dad) as my father figure. My own father isn't worth anything.

But I do agree with you that it would be interesting to see a happy family, or at least one that gets along in fiction for once, but I think that it's simply not relatable to today's audiences. The days of Ward Cleaver are long gone.

 

[David cgc]

John Sheridan was on pretty good terms with his folks on Babylon 5. Same with Cameron Mitchell and Sam Carter on Stargate. The new Trek movie confirms that the original Kirk had a strong (though off-screen) relationship with his father.

The reason for unhappy families showing up so often has little to do with being "relatable to today's audiences" and more to do with stories requiring conflict. It's simply easier to structure a story where a character has a conflict with their parents than it is to bring them in as ancillary element to some other problem. In the latter case, it probably makes just as much sense to have the character solve the problem on their own.

 

[JonathonWally]

The reason for unhappy families showing up so often has little to do with being "relatable to today's audiences" and more to do with stories requiring conflict. It's simply easier to structure a story where a character has a conflict with their parents than it is to bring them in as ancillary element to some other problem. In the latter case, it probably makes just as much sense to have the character solve the problem on their own.

Or it has to do with the writer of said story "writing what he knows"

Don't be too quick to judge.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Seemed to work in Superman.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Losing one father figure to death is fine (it's a staple of drama, even if a bit cliche). Two is pushing it, imo. Then it's just repetitive.

 

[shivkala]

When you think about it, it's the same story with Superman and Batman, who both lost their fathers (Thomas Wayne for Batman and Jor-El and later Jonathan Kent for Superman) and how they dealt with it. The key that makes it work for them is that the better writers who acknowledge it use it to show the difference. They address the issue head on and allow it to color the characters and illustrate why each man is the way they are.

If you are going to do it, you need to find some way to connect it. I think if there is a strong link between the two events (similar cause of death, two characters drawn to each other because of the tragedy, a mystery involving the two, etc.) then it could work.

 

[Hermiod]

John Sheridan was on pretty good terms with his folks on Babylon 5. Same with Cameron Mitchell and Sam Carter on Stargate. The new Trek movie confirms that the original Kirk had a strong (though off-screen) relationship with his father.

Yes, that was pretty much the list I was able to come up with too. Oh, and Jonathan Kent on Smallville - oh wait, he's dead.

Jonathan Kent was probably the best TV dad I've ever seen. He wasn't portrayed as being stupid or incompetent, he loved his family and most importantly he wasn't some fat oaf you couldn't believe his wife married.

The reason for unhappy families showing up so often has little to do with being "relatable to today's audiences" and more to do with stories requiring conflict. It's simply easier to structure a story where a character has a conflict with their parents than it is to bring them in as ancillary element to some other problem. In the latter case, it probably makes just as much sense to have the character solve the problem on their own.

They're not usually in conflict with their parents, though - just their fathers.