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The Patriarch: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|''"By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder -- infinitely prouder -- to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build, the father only builds, never destroys."''|'''[[Four-Star Badass|Douglas MacArthur.]]'''}}
This is the [[Spear Counterpart]] to an [[Apron Matron]]. He is a tough family male elder and he just oozes authority wherever he goes. Likely he will be head of [[The Clan]], a [[Cool Old Guy]] and of course a [[Badass Grandpa]]. But younger versions are allowed though usually not too young. Just as an Apron Matron is a [[Badass]] woman whose formidability is tied to running the family, he is a man whose formidability is associated in the same way.
He will naturally have traditional ideas about how family responsibility should be run, thinking for instance that [[Manly Men Can Hunt]], but women should [[Stay in the Kitchen]]. There may be subtleties to his opinions in this matter of course, but that does not change the basic theme. These specialty differences will naturally distinguish him from an Apron Matron as well as causing [[Values Dissonance]] with many.
He will likely be an [[Overprotective Dad]] and perhaps a [[Knight Templar Parent]]. On the plus side he will almost certainly be a very efficient [[Papa Wolf]] if any of his people are in danger. And he will definitely be the family's [[Team Dad]], whatever else he is. Villainous Patriarchs will often be [[Abusive Parents]], and/or a [[Fallen Hero]] . They might also be [[The Don]] in the [[Mafia]]. Heroic ones will tend to have rough edges, though they will often be [[Mentors|the Mentor]] for children, nephews, and grandchildren. This kind of character is often also a [[Determined Homesteader]], and a [[Wasteland Elder]].
A common plot is where the Patriarch is too much [[The Stoic]] to give a [[So Proud of You]] until the very end, which of course will likely be a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]] (unless it is meant to tragically come too late). And if a Patriarch is married to an [[Apron Matron]], then we shall have something to see... This trope may be less common now and milder father-figures seem to be somewhat in vogue, but it still persists.
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== [[Film]] ==
* Vito Corleone in ''[[The Godfather]]''. Michael too.
* [[Tommy Lee Jones]] plays a surrogate for this in ''Man of the House''. He is also this to his daughter in the same movie.
* Captain von Trapp in ''[[The Sound of Music]]''.
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* In ''Scipio Africanus: The Man Who Defeated Hannibal'' by Ross Leckie, Scipio's father is portrayed as almost a stereotype of the Roman version of this trope. He is stern and stoic, yet has a great tenderness underneath and raises Scipio to love and admire Rome and it's values and understand his duty to it.
* In Wen Spencer's ''Endless Blue'', Viktor was this in the [[Backstory]].
* [[Funny Boy]]: Arjie's father has ultimate authority over the family. For example, his wife wants to go to Canada to escape the conflict, but he would rather stay, so they stay. Arjie experiences him as someone who is not involved in the day-to-day life of the family, but who makes the major decisions.
* Tywin Lannister provides a villainous example, both in [[A Song of Ice and Fire]] and the TV adaptation.
* In L. Jagi's Lamplighter's ''[[Prospero's Daughter]]'' trilogy, Prospero.
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* Ben Cartwright in ''[[Bonanza]]''.
* Adama in the old ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]''.
** It is hard to imagine Lorne Greene NOT being a patriarch.
* Grandfather Vanderbilt on ''[[Gossip Girl]]''. Two episodes featuring him are even titled "''the Grandfather''" and ""''the Grandfather Part 2''"" in reference to ''[[The Godfather]]''.
* "Old Man" from [[Pawn Stars]] rules the Pawn Shop and everyone knows it. Even Rick, his son, even though he's co-owner.
* Rupert Giles, from [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]. He said it himself.
* Frank Reagan in [[Blue Bloods]].
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== [[Manga]] and [[Anime]] ==
* Kyosuke and Kirino's dad in ''[[Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai!]]'' is this. Is permissive to his children so long as they follow certain conditions, such as his allowing Kirino to be a model if she excels at schoolwork. He doesn't take very well finding out that she is an [[Otaku]], not because of any stupidity concerning the [[Animation Age Ghetto]], but because of the attached stigma of being one, which he does not want her to suffer. However, no amount of reasoning can make him accept her ownership of [[Eroge]] (since Kirino's still in junior high), so Kyosuke [[Taking the Heat|takes the heat for that]].
** Who then gets punched in the face for claiming he's going in his sister's room to use her computer to play games about [[Brother-Sister Incest]].
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== [[Theater]] ==
* Big Daddy in ''[[Cat on a Hot Tin Roof]]''.
* Mr. Antrobus in ''The Skin of Our Teeth''. He's Adam '''and''' Noah!
* Dodge in [[Sam Shepard|Sam Shepard's]] ''Buried Child'' is a subversion and a deconstruction. Nobody even pretends that Dodge is still in control of the family and he ends up mercilessly bullied.
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[[Category:Archetypal Character]]
[[Category:Elders]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
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