Literary father figures
The best dads aren’t superheroes; they’re just people who keep trying to do the right thing, even when it’s hard.
Daily TribuneThe best dads aren’t superheroes; they’re just people who keep trying to do the right thing, even when it’s hard.
MATTHEW Cuthbert, Bilbo Baggins and Atticus Finch.
Photographs courtesy of www.anneofgreengables.com, lotr.fandom.com, www.moviesanywhere.com
Atticus Finch, the protagonist of Harper Lee's 'To Kill A Mockingbird.'
Photograph courtesy of www.moviesanywhere.com
Matthew Cuthbert's soft-spoken nature reveals his intense love for Anne Shirley.
Photograph courtesy of anne-with-an-e.fandom.com
Bilbo Baggins, the fictional narrator of J.R.R Tolkien's Middle-earth writings.
Photograph courtesy of LOTR Wiki
Grandpa Joe Bucket's ultimate desire is to see the Chocolate Factory one last time.
Photograph courtesy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Wiki
Mark Ruffalo as Daniel LeBlanc, museum curator and locksmith in Netflix's 'All the Light We Cannot See.'
Photograph courtesy of Netlfix
Baba represents strength and resolve.
Photograph courtesy of IMDB
'Spy Family's' Dr. Loid Forger.
Photograph courtesy of CBR
Bandit with Bluey and Bingo.
Photograph courtesy of Ludo Studios
There’s something about literary fathers --- they stick with us long after we read the last page. Is it their strength? Wisdom? Sense of humor?
This Father's Day, let us remember some of the best book dads:
Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird
When thinking of the ideal dad, every book lover must have pictured Atticus Finch at one point. This small-town lawyer isn’t just raising Scout and Jem; he’s giving out a masterclass in parenting. Remember how he defended Tom Robinson, even when the rest of the world turned against him? That wasn’t just about being a good lawyer, but showing his kids what real courage looks like.
Matthew Cuthbert, Anne of Green Gables
Matthew Cuthbert never expected to become a father at 60, which makes his quiet devotion to Anne Shirley all the more remarkable.
This reticent farmer, who barely spoke two words to most people, found endless patience for a chatterbox orphan with a penchant for dramatic pronouncements. While his sister Marilla frets over rules and propriety, Matthew’s the one quietly slipping Ann puffed sleeves, defending her imagination, and showing up when it counts.
Bilbo Baggins, The Lord of the Rings
Bilbo is nowhere near your typical father figure, but that’s exactly why we love him.
When this comfort-loving hobbit first took in young Frodo, he probably didn’t imagine he’d become the cool uncle who’d literally go on life-changing adventures and come back with legendary stories (and a very suspicious magic ring). Amidst all that, Baggins is the reason Frodo grows up believing there’s more to life than second breakfasts.
Grandpa Joe, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Grandpa Joe might be the most controversial father figure in children’s literature. Honestly? That’s what makes him fascinating.
Yes, he’s the bedridden grandfather who magically springs to life at the whiff of a golden ticket. He also lets Charlie raid his tobacco money for that fateful Wonka bar. But while Charlie’s world comprises shrinking meals and creaking floorboards, Grandpa Joe becomes his keeper of wonders. He’s the one who trades bedtime stories for secret dance steps and treats a single chocolate bar like buried treasure. While teaching discipline like Wonka, he also preserved Charlie’s fragile sense of possibility.
Daniel LeBlanc, All the Light We Cannot See
Daniel LeBlanc shows us that the best fathers don’t just protect, but teach their children how to survive a dark world with courage.
When his daughter Marie-Laure goes blind, he doesn’t coddle her; he builds a miniature model of their neighborhood so she can memorize it with her fingers. He turns her disability into strength through puzzles, keys hidden in drawers, and stories of brave snails conquering mountains. Even as war tears Paris apart, LeBlanc makes danger feel like an adventure, whispering secrets in museums and carrying hope inside a tiny wooden house.
Baba, The Kite Runner
Fatherhood isn’t always simple or sweet — sometimes it’s messy, like Baba’s love.
He’s the dad who teaches Amir to stand up for himself with tough lessons, while showing Hassan kindness through secret gifts and a life-changing surgery. His heart is big enough for both boys, even if he doesn’t know how to say it out loud. When Baba grows weak, Amir learns something new about strength, not in a man’s loud words, but in quiet moments, like when a father lets his son care for him.
Dr. Loid Forger, Spy x Family
Loid thought being a spy would be his toughest job — until he became a pretend dad.
At first, he needed a "family" for his mission, but Anya (and her giant, psychic dog Bond) quickly turned his careful plans upside down. This super-spy can outsmart criminals, but a six-year-old’s questions and a puppy’s puppy-dog eyes always win. Slowly, Loid discovers something surprising. His pretend family feels more real than any mission.
Bandit Heeler, Bluey
Forget superheroes. Bandit Heeler is the dad we all wish we had (or could be).
This archaeologist-by-day, playtime-champion-by-demand somehow turns every mundane moment into an adventure. What makes him special isn’t just that he plays along; it’s that he commits. He’s the blueprint for modern fatherhood: Silly but sincere, flawed but fully engaged, and doesn’t impose adult expectations on Bingo and Bluey.
