Thematic Ideas for "A Father's Story"

I mentioned that I have used this story before for our literary critique assignment, and in those sessions, a number of ideas emerged for students writing about the story. These are not the only ideas that might be used, but maybe this list will give you some ideas for your own interpretation.

The impact a crisis can have on our lives

What are the limits of love?

When can the law be broken?

Faith matters more than we think if we choose to believe

No matter how well one prepares for life, things can go so horribly wrong that you will always be unprepared

Love is the greatest power in our lives

Love is greater than truth

What does it mean to be an honest person?

We all have secrets in our lives. It's how we live our lives with these secrets that matters

Despite his doubts, Luke achieves a kind of redemption

Luke is tested by God in the way [Cain or Job] is tested

The past will always haunt us (or the past will always shape us)

Blood love is stronger than love of God or love of friend, and that's as it should be

Despite his attempts to practice ritual to be a faithful man, Luke has failed to be faithful

Ritual is the strongest bond we have that keeps us grounded when all around us is chaos or meaninglessness

All of nature is one with God, so that by listening to nature, we are better able to hear God

Luke feels disconnected from those around him because he feels shame

We do not know who we are until we are given a test that challenges our fundamental beliefs

Faith is the most difficult relationship we have

Luke can only survive by living in the present

Fathers (Luke and God) love their children in weakness because that is the nature of lov

The crisis or climactic moment in this story for Luke is when Gloria leaves

Father Paul acts as the conscience of Luke; without Father Paul, Luke is an entirely different man

What is good or true is never easy to know; we discover only by experiencing and then understanding