Father Melancholy's Daughter: Analysis of Major Characters
"Father Melancholy's Daughter" is a novel that explores the complex dynamics between its major characters, primarily centering on Margaret Gower, the protagonist and narrator. Margaret is the daughter of Walter Gower, an Episcopal priest, who grapples with severe depression, referred to as "the Black Curtain." As Margaret grows up, she finds herself stepping into the caretaker role for her emotionally dependent father, mirroring the absence of her mother, Ruth, who left the family when Margaret was six years old. Ruth's departure stems from her growing discontent with both her marriage and the weight of Walter's needs, eventually leading her to pursue a life of artistic exploration, which tragically ends in an accident before she can reconnect with Margaret.
Other significant characters include Madelyn Farley, Ruth's bold and artistic friend, who introduces Ruth to the world of theater, and Adrian Bonner, a pastoral counselor who becomes a mentor to Walter and an object of Margaret's affection. Through these character interactions, the novel delves into themes of faith, familial responsibility, and the struggle for personal identity within a context of emotional turmoil. The nuanced portrayal of each character invites readers to reflect on their motivations and the impact of their relationships, making for a rich exploration of human experience.
Father Melancholy's Daughter: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Gail Godwin
First published: 1991
Genre: Novel
Locale: Romulus, Virginia, and Charlottesville, North Carolina
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: 1972–1988
Margaret Gower, the protagonist and narrator. Margaret's father, Walter, is an Episcopal priest; her mother, Ruth, abandoned the family when Margaret was six years old. Walter is a victim of frequent bouts of depression, and as Margaret grows older, she gradually assumes her mother's old role of caretaker for him. Sharing her father's introspection, as well as his faith in God and in the church, she tries to find a path into the confusing world of adulthood. She is, in turns, insightful and naïve about herself and those close to her. A generally reliable narrator, she has a keen sense of character and an inclination to see people kindly. For all of her insight into those around her, she avoids the obvious truth about her mother's reasons for leaving.
Walter Gower, Margaret's father and the rector of St. Cuthbert's Church in Romulus, Virginia. He is a wise man with a deep faith in God and a sometimes unbelievable capacity for patience and forbearance. The “Father Melancholy” of the book's title, he suffers from frequent and severe depressions, which he calls “the Black Curtain.” When the Curtain is open, he is an inspiring priest and mentor, as well as a caring father. When it is closed, he becomes strongly dependent—emotionally and physically—first on his wife, then on his daughter.
Ruth Gower, Margaret's mother. As a college student in her early twenties, Ruth had fallen in love with Walter, sixteen years her senior, and married him. By the time their daughter Margaret is six years old, Ruth has become bored with her marriage and her life, largely because of the overpowering neediness of her husband. On an impulse, she takes off with an old school friend, Madelyn Farley, who is returning to New York. With Madelyn and her painter father, Ruth explores her own artistic talents and takes her first paying job. She makes ineffective attempts to stay close to Margaret but dies in an auto accident before Margaret is old enough to understand what Ruth is trying to do.
Madelyn Farley, a set designer, Ruth's old friend. Madelyn is artistic and self-confident. She seem exotic and bold to Ruth, and rather rude and self-absorbed to Walter and Margaret. Madelyn shows Ruth the world of the theater, introduces her to other artists (including Madelyn's father, a famous but ill-mannered painter), and encourages Ruth's own meager artistic talents. She blames Walter and religion for Ruth's unhappiness until she learns that Ruth was incapable of happiness.
Old Farley, a famous landscape painter, Madelyn's father. Like Madelyn, Old Farley has devoted himself entirely to his art, leaving no room in his life for human attachments. He is constantly rude and angry, and he seems not to notice Madelyn's attentions to him.
Adrian Bonner, the pastoral counselor at the larger Episcopal church in Romulus. In his forties, Adrian is intelligent and kind. Margaret is attracted to him, in the same way that her mother was attracted to the much older Walter in her own youth. Like Walter, Adrian is a burdened man—he is a victim of child abuse. His strongest attachment is to Walter, who becomes his mentor.