Five fabulous, fictional father figures: my-oh-my, try saying that five times fast! I may have gone overboard with the alliteration.

On the 17th (that’s THIS coming Sunday) we celebrate Dads. All dads, or dad-type-figures. So here’s five of my favourites from stories.

Sirius Black

(The Harry Potter Series by J.K.Rowling)

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.”

It’s impossible (for me, at least) to write any ‘fictional character’ list without a Potter character popping up at least once; and this list is no exception. Black brings Harry fatherly support and brotherly banter making him almost more of a ‘fun uncle’ figure, or a godfather even. Which is handy because that’s who he is. Black’s fierce loyalty is mirrored in his godson’s behaviours making them wildly compatible and utterly reckless in equal measure. Sirius is loyal to James (Harry’s father) and subsequently his son and it’s tragic that he is lost to Harry so soon after they discover one another. Happy Father’s Day, Sirius! (And, Arthur Weasley, I think you’re great too!)

Mr Tom

(Goodnight, Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian)

“Tom was terribly proud of him but then he had been for a long time”

Tom Oakley, dubbed “Mister Tom” by the boy he looks after, is an elderly & reclusive Englishman who is as much of an influence on his resident evacuee, Willie Beech (an abused boy relocated during WWII), as the boy is on him. Despite being unsociable and badly tempered (partially due to sorrows we learn of later on) Tom makes time for Willie and, upon discovering his story, treats the boy with kindness and understanding, teaching him to master his talents. Throughout the book Tom is Willie’s constant and rescues him more than once from the horrors the boy is challenged with. It’s an absolutely heart-wrenching tale and one of the first truly emotional books I read as a young person. By the end of the book “Mister Tom” poignantly becomes “Dad” and, by turning around his own grief to benefit young Master Beech, definitely deserves a spot on this list.

Hans Hubermann

(The Book Thief by Markus Zusak)

“Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father’s eyes. They were made of kindness and silver… Liesel , when seeing those eyes, understood that Hans Hubermann was worth a lot”.

“Papa” is a simple man of few words who, like Mister Tom, finds himself in the role of father again at the arrival of an evacuee. Only this time, the setting is Nazi Germany. Liesel arrives to the Hubermann household alone, her brother having died on the journey over, to find an abrasive mother figure with a kind heart (Rosa Hubermann) and a gentle accordion player of few words: her new parents. Hans and Liesel become fast friends and Hans supports Liesel’s beliefs despite their stark contrast to the dominating manifesto of the Nazi regime. Hans warns Liesel of the dangers of voicing such views. He teaches her to read despite being unskilled himself but also teaches her integrity and compassion. He is there for her every time she has a nightmare, be it a dream or some horror in her waking life and is every bit as “dad” as any dad can hope to be.

Rupert Giles

(Played by Anthony Head in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. Character created by Joss Whedon)

“To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It’s not done because people deserve it. It’s done because they need it.”

Mr Bennet

(Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen)

“I cannot believe that anyone can deserve you… but it appears I am overruled. So, I heartily give my consent. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to anyone less worthy.”

Mr Bennet is a man of extremely calm demeanour, quick wit and a wonderful understanding of his children and their individual idiosyncrasies. Whilst he refers to his own daughters as “stupid”, for his era he is quite as attached to them as any 19th Century father might hope to be; he is somewhat progressive and, at least for Elizabeth, is a supportive and open-minded father. He is strict with Kitty after dealing with the ‘unpleasantness’ of Lydia’s controversial elopement and is generally labelled as quite unfeeling. All our fathers here, and humans in general, are flawed – it’s impossible to deny it – but Mr Bennet recognises Lizzie’s wit, intelligence and integrity as a strong female voice in a male dominated world and I sincerely believe that there is something to be said for that.

There are pages and pages full of the wonderful tales of patriarchs in all their glory, these were just five of my favourites.

Let me know in the comments who’d top your best or worst father figures list. 

P.s. Happy Father’s Day, Dadda!