Father’s Day is around the corner and while we go about appreciating our own fathers, I also want to appreciate some fictional fathers and father figures who left a mark on me. I’ve picked some iconic fathers from across books, movies and shows – who impressed me for very different reasons. Here is my list –
Atticus Finch from ‘To Kill A Mockingbird‘
I read ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ when I was 12 years old. While the deeper meaning of what played out in the book took a few years for me to really understand but I fell in love with Atticus’ character. We was wise, kind and a very well rounded character. He loved his children and refused to shield them from what was happening and instead chose to educate them about it in the most loving way possible. I decided at that young age that if I ever have kids, I’d be a parent like him.
Phil Dunphy from ‘Modern Family’
He is my FAVOURITE TV dad. He is calm, chill, easy going and everything a ‘Modern’ dad should be. He loves his children and supports them in whatever they want to do. He counteracts Claire’s controlling nature to make sure their children have some freedom.
Arthur Weasley from ‘Harry Potter‘ Series
Not only was he a loving dad to his own children, he made it a point to be a loving dad figure in Harry’s life too. He was there to guide him and advice him. Despite the horrors that followed Harry, the Weasley family always opened up their home and hearts to him. With his own kids, he let Fred and George follow their hearts and always took part in their shenanigan. He taught his kids the importance of integrity over money.
Chris Gardner from ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’
A movie based on a true story. He is inspirational just for the example he sets for his son with his never ending pursuit to better himself and their lives.
King Janaka from ‘Ramayana’
He was a king of a big kingdom who found an abandoned baby girl, adopted her and raised her as equal to his other biological daughters. In a country where female foeticide and infanticide levels are so high – he is probably the only character from Indian mythologies that stands out for the way he brought up his four daughters.
Mahavir Singh Phogat from ‘Dangal’
This movie is based on real life Indian women wrestlers and their father. Mahavir is a former wrestler who wasn’t able to successfully win a medal for India. He decides to train his daughters in wrestling which comes as a total shock to the traditional village they live in. Despite all the impediments that come their way, he treats them equal to boys and makes them world class wrestlers.
Henry Woodhouse from ‘Emma‘
He is a doting father to Emma and her sister, to the extent that Emma suggests that if she ever gets married she’d continue living at home with her father. He let Emma be her quirky self. Most of the classics that I read while growing up had unsupportive fathers or fathers who abandoned their children (every single Charles Dickens book), Henry stood out!
Ove from ‘A Man Called Ove‘
This cute, surly old man is bound to win your heart. From being a grumpy neighbour to becoming all protective of the new family that moves in next door – this character is so heart warming. Though he isn’t a father, he adopts a role of a father figure to his neighbours and it changes his life.
Who are some fictional father/father figures that left an impact on you? 🙂
PS: This post is inspired by Sheri’s post. Definitely give her post a read and her blog love!
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Happy Panda 
Great compilation 👍
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Beautiful post Moksha.
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Thanks, Kritika 🙂
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Welcome 🙂
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Phil Dunphy is my favourite too! And Randall Pearson from This is Us. And all the other fictional dads you have mentioned – Arthur Weasley, Chris Gardener, King Janaka, Henry Woodhouse. They are my favourites too
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Oh my god. I love this is us. Randall is a good dad but jack pearson is my favorite dad of all time.
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I love Jack too!!!! 🥺🥺 But the reason I didn’t include him is that he’s TOO good to be true!!!! How can anyone be THAT perfect??!!??
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I know🙈. I don’t think he is not that perfect though. He had his issues too and he made a lot of mistakes. But he is way too nice to be real. Milo ventimiglia is a great actor too and portrayed jack so well. He is so handsome🙈
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Yaaa. I have such a huge crush on him. Have you seen Gilmore Girls?
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No I haven’t. But I do some spoilers from that show about Milo’s character that I wasn’t happy with.
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You aren’t alone when it comes to crushing on him 😀
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I know! He’s so perfect. I guess that’s why he passed so early. ☹️
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I love This is Us too. Oh, Jack Pearson is great too but I have soft corner for Randall 😀
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What a cute idea. ❤
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Thank you 🙂
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omg yes mahavir singh phogat is an amazing dad!! not to mention arthur weasley rocks!!!
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Mahavir is so so impressive!!!! and I am so glad so many people saw that movie – hopefully girls in India (especially smaller towns and villages) will have more supportive parents in the future. 🙂 🙂
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Yes the movie was absolutely wonderful!
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Atticus finch and Mahavir Singh is a hard yes.
Also I find King Janak to be a better father than Dashrath even more so after reading The Forest Of Enchantments
Great post!
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I loved that book – it really really opened my eyes about how the men in our mythologies were glorified and women were just catalysts. Only Janaka loved and doted on his daughters – which was so progressive. 🙂
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Ikr. I grew up to dislike Ram after that book. Even Lakshman.
Janak was the only male who gave the females importance.
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Writing a post for fictional fathers is very creative. Loved reading it ♥♥
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Thank you 🙂
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Most welcome dear ♥♥
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That’s creative! Arthur weasley sure is my favorite!
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Mr. & Mrs. Weasley are adorable. They are so cute and yet so realistically portrayed.
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What a fun post! I have to say, I always compared my father to Atticus because he really was like that in so many ways. My sister and I were (and still are) so lucky to have him! Great post, thanks Moksha! 💖
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Wow. You’re really lucky! 🙂 Please wish him for Father’s Day from my side and tell him he’s done a great job with raising you. ❤ ❤
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Oh so sweet, thank u, will do! 💖
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Such a great list! I’ve heard good things about A Man Called Ove so I’ll have to check it out!
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It is such a heart warming book – definitely give it a read! 🙂
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my father died in 1985. he was closed off due to extreme poverty in his youth. i am a dad but i m not sure i m not just as closed off , but not for the same reasons. perhaps tmi and somewhat of a downer.
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Happy Father’s Day to you 🙂
Closed off from your kids? I think a lot of dads are like that. They are closed off because they don’t like sharing their “feelings” and “burdens” with their kids.
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we are autistic and aspbergers. so there s lotsa of yelling.
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Good compilation…Most parents have something good to offer but unfortunately most pass this world unnoticed .
Stay away 🙏🙏
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Agreed! But I think as long as their kids appreciate what they have done for them and turn out okay – I think that’s what makes parents happiest! 🙂
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🙏🙏🙏
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Such an creative and interesting post for the upcoming Father’s day!! Loved your choices of characters ❤️
Chris Gardner Is really an inspiring father.
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Thank you! Chris Gardner is truly impressive for what he managed to achieve from the hand life dealt him. I wish I could be more like him. 🙂
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I love the pursuit of happiness. It was such a cry worthy movie and Chris Gardner is was a great dad🥺
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Me too! You just start rooting for Chris! It is such a feel good book! 🙂
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Nice
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Such a good list.
I read Emma when I was in primary school so I barely remember anything.
I should read it again.
This is such a good idea!
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You should! It is such a cute book! Funnily, I always relate SO much with Emma. I am just as meddlesome as she is. 😀 😀
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Oh I definitely will.
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These are so cute 🙂 ive heard a lot about a man called ove definitely need to give it a read!
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Such an original post. Very thought provoking and enjoyable.
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This is such a creative idea, for father’s day! This definitely reminded me of some movies and books I have to re-watch & re-read! 🙂 🙂 🙂
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This is such a wonderful post! I’m literally watching ‘Modern Family’ right now and he’s such a goofball.. but he’s also a wonderful dad. I love what you did here!
Happy Father’s Day!
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Yes to Arthur Weasley!
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loved this! 💙
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Great post – such a cool idea. Phil Dunphy is such a good character, always love watching Modern Family!
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Really cool idea for a post!
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Mr Weasley is indeed compassionate and fun. I loved how he took it when his sons stole the flying car. THANKS FOR RECOGNISJNG KING JANAKA! That is sooo well spotted and not something people would usually recognise.
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Such famous and heart touching characters. I hope I read the mentioned books as soon as possible! 😩❤️
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