Family
‹ 8 · Outline · 10 ›
9.The duties of children to parents
9a.Filial piety and obedience as a duty
See also: Duty 7a
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 24–25Telemachus refuses to expel the mother who bore and reared him, fearing her curse and restitution to her father.read · scan
- p. 61–62Telemachus longs for home and parents; Menelaus praises his gentle blood.read · scan
- p. 77–78Simile of children rejoicing at a sick father's recovery.read · scan
- p. 128Polyphemus appeals to Poseidon as his father to avenge him.read · scan
- p. 189Eumaeus longs for his parents but grieves more for Odysseus; Penelope weeps for her lord.read · scan
- p. 299Telemachus obeys his father and arms himself and the herdsmen at Odysseus' side.read · scan
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 5Filial and fraternal duty are called the root of love and of law-abiding conduct.read · scan
- p. 5–6Serving father and mother with all one's strength; honouring forefathers renews goodness.read · scan
- p. 6A son should study his father's wishes in life and follow his ways for three years after death.read · scan
- p. 7–8Filial duty is more than feeding parents, like animals; it requires honour, manner and easing their worry.read · scan
- p. 13–14Parents may be gently chidden; persevere humbly if they do not bend.read · scan
- p. 14Sons should not wander far from living parents, should keep father's ways and mind parents' age with joy and fear.read · scan
- p. 65Filial piety praised: Meng Chuang kept his father's ministers and rule unchanged.read · scan
Aeschylus, The FuriesVol. 8
- p. 142–144Parents will suffer from their children's steel; each should adore a parent's trust.read · scan
Sophocles, AntigoneVol. 8
- p. 276Father and son: Haemon professes loyalty, saying a father's glory is a son's best honour.read · scan
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 603–604Men are told to wait on mothers and fathers and honor kinsfolk elders.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters of CiceroVol. 9
- p. 173Son's affection for his father's kindness; attachment to teacher like that of a son.read · scan
- p. 173–175He obeys his father's order to give up Gorgias, reluctant to criticize a paternal decision.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 100Argument recounts Aeneas carrying his father, leading his son, wife following.read · scan
- p. 117Anchises refuses to flee and the family begs in vain; Aeneas will not live without his father.read · scan
- p. 117Aeneas carries his father and leads his son, then loses Creusa and despairs at her loss.read · scan
- p. 131Aeneas brings the glad news to his father Anchises, who admits his error.read · scan
- p. 207–210Aeneas seeks his father's shade, recalling how he carried Anchises and how Anchises braved the sea.read · scan
- p. 210Palinurus appeals to Aeneas by his dead father and living son.read · scan
- p. 210Aeneas is praised for filial love, seeking his father in Elysium; infants lost to their mothers dwell at the gates.read · scan
- p. 210Anchises greets his son Aeneas with tears and embraces, praising his filial piety and love.read · scan
- p. 300Euryalus asks that his mother be cared for, since he left without farewell; Ascanius vows to treat her as his own.read · scan
- p. 344Lausus shields his wounded father Mezentius at the cost of his own life, filial devotion.read · scan
- p. 344–350Aeneas honors Lausus, recalling his own filial love; Mezentius grieves that his son died to ransom him.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 360–361Parents seek the lost boy sorrowing; he is subject to them; his mother keeps these things.read · scan
Plutarch, CoriolanusVol. 12
- p. 149His glory's end is his mother Volumnia's gladness; he shows her filial duty and gratitude, marries at her wish, and lives with her.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 146He broods on how his father and brother regard him.read · scan
Tacitus, GermanyVol. 33
- p. 110Young men prove themselves worthy of their parents.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 355–356Emperor's pious affection toward his father is praised.read · scan
- p. 415–416Pliny's wife travels swiftly to her aunt on her grandfather's death; the letter praises filial piety and the tender duty of kinship.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 223Parents and nurse gave seed, blood and milk.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 154–155Sorrow at the wrench of living together with his mother; her praise of his dutifulness; child Adeodatus.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 909–910Mary's virgin conception, labor and vindication before her people; Jesus enjoined to piety toward his mother.read · scan
- p. 972Kindness to parents and kindred is enjoined.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 337–339Father charges his son to care for his mother and subjects; kin come to console.read · scan
- p. 356He reproaches his mother for acknowledging and trusting the false uncle.read · scan
- p. 359–361The mother begs her son by the milk he sucked to cast away the Lamp; he defers to her wishes.read · scan
- p. 368He relies on his mother to carry his suit, and she fetches the bowl.read · scan
- p. 368–370The mother goes out of duty to her son's wish and reports back to him.read · scan
The Voyages to VinlandVol. 43
- p. 6–8Leif invites his aged father Eric to lead the expedition; Eric declines.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 123–125Father's blessing and command drive Christy to fight; Bewick hails Grahame as his dearest.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 103He refuses favors to his son-in-law yet kneels daily to ask his father the judge's blessing.read · scan
- p. 103More honors his father in court, visits his deathbed, and tearfully embraces him.read · scan
- p. 125Margaret runs to embrace and kiss her condemned father; he blesses her, showing filial love.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 14–15Filial piety leads him to please his father with music; he defends his younger brother.read · scan
- p. 40He joins the band partly to please his old father.read · scan
- p. 41Father appears in a dream, pleading and threatening a curse; Cellini yields to fulfil his father's wish and the father's joy nearly kills him.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 162–163Quixote says next to parents we must respect masters as fathers.read · scan
- p. 267She trusts her parents' affection yet cannot return to them in disgrace; her father is named.read · scan
- p. 383Sons choose vocations, return part of their portions to their aged father out of filial duty, and part with tears and blessing.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 165–166Father blesses each descendant, honors sons of merit, and is served by his children with reverence at the feast.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 157Hamlet mocks his mother's amazement and agrees ironically to obey her.read · scan
- p. 162He tells his mother not to return to Claudius's bed and asks her blessing.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 244–246Regan and Cornwall praise Edmund's child-like duty to his father and blame Edgar's association with Lear's knights.read · scan
- p. 286Cordelia cries out for her father and sisters; Lear's shame at his unkindness keeps him from his daughter.read · scan
- p. 286–289Cordelia's devotion to her mad father; she fights out of love and her aged father's right.read · scan
- p. 293–296The gentleman notes one daughter, Cordelia, redeems nature from the curse of the other two.read · scan
- p. 299–300Cordelia's devotion to her child-changed father, whom she wishes cured; she seeks to repay Kent's goodness.read · scan
- p. 300Cordelia tenderly kisses and pities her father, appalled at the harm his two daughters did him.read · scan
- p. 301–303Lear recognizes Cordelia as his child and asks forgiveness; she answers no cause, no cause.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 378Herbert sends his dear mother a New Year's gift of a letter and sonnet.read · scan
- p. 384–385Herbert submits to his mother's wisdom rather than be an undutiful son, staying at the university.read · scan
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a DreamVol. 26
- p. 71Father and son: Basilio's constraint of Segismund produced the wrong; son submits to father.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 84Father pleads with his daughter to see Severus; she yields out of filial obedience.read · scan
- p. 105Pauline appeals to filial duty and her obedient marriage to plead for Polyeucte; Felix asserts his mastery as father.read · scan
John Milton, Poems Written During the Civil War and the Protectorate, 1642-1658Vol. 4
- p. 78–79A daughter recalls and praises her upright father's virtues.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 129Sin obeys Satan as father and author of her being.read · scan
John Dryden, Dedication of the AeneisVol. 13
- p. 21–22Aeneas carries his father, leads his son, searches for his lost wife, mourns his father, and grieves for Pallas.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 47Children should hold veneration for parents and teachers, made of love, esteem and fear to offend.read · scan
- p. 87Restraint sustains respect and reverence due to parents.read · scan
Jean Racine, PhaedraVol. 26
- p. 185–186He shields his father from shame and fears Phaedra's son will rob them of the throne.read · scan
- p. 191–193Hippolytus's dying wish for his father to know the truth and treat Aricia kindly; Theseus's remorse.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 338–339If thou wouldst be obeyed as father, be obedient as son.read · scan
- p. 339Parents deserve obedience, having given life, love and care; the obligation is as indissoluble as the relation.read · scan
- p. 339–340Parents remain parents and we their children; unjust commands do not excuse neglect.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 170Rebuked by his father for disrespect to his mother; he never again spoke unhandsomely to his parents.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 363Hermann recalls honoring his parents, his father's harshness, and their sacrifice to save for their children.read · scan
- p. 395Dorothea asks about Hermann's parents and how to please them; he describes his mother's and father's differing tastes.read · scan
- p. 396–397She hopes to satisfy his parents; children were trained to courtesy toward parents.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 37–38Father bred him in decency and manliness; the death of his wife is mentioned.read · scan
- p. 463–465Jean works her mammie's wark before love takes her heart.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 395–397Melchthal anxious for his father's welfare and wishes to return to care for him.read · scan
- p. 398–399Melchthal learns his father was blinded because of him and reacts with guilt and anguish.read · scan
- p. 402–403Melchthal appeals to the elders as fathers who wish a dutiful son to shield their old age.read · scan
Sir Walter Scott, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 747–749Rosabelle crosses the firth because her mother sits lonely and her father expects her to fill the wine.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-RelianceVol. 5
- p. 74Will support parents and family and be a chaste husband, but fulfil these relations in a new way, as himself.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 258Good children who please their parents shorten the spirits' probation; naughty ones lengthen it.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 89Marmontel's boyhood pledge to replace his dead father for his distressed family stirred Mill.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 936–937Leaving home, blessings and dead loved ones for another home; childhood obedience recalled.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Twenty-Four Years AfterVol. 23
- p. 397Tom Harris resolves to go to England to find his mother.read · scan
9b.Care of aged parents and the rites for the dead
See also: Religion 5c
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 150Odysseus thrice tries to embrace his dead mother, longing to clasp her.read · scan
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 7A son's duty is obedience, serving, burying and worshipping parents with courtesy.read · scan
- p. 18Grain is requested for a disciple's mother.read · scan
- p. 59–60Mourning for parents expresses filial grief; Tsai Wo wishes to shorten it.read · scan
- p. 60Three years' mourning repays the three years of parental love a child receives; Tsai Wo lacks love.read · scan
Aeschylus, The Libation-BearersVol. 8
- p. 76–77Orestes returns to mourn his murdered father at the tomb; Electra and kin bring offerings to the dead.read · scan
- p. 79Electra cannot present her mother's gifts as from a loving wife; she names Orestes and kin.read · scan
- p. 89–91Children kneel at their father's tomb, homeless and suppliant.read · scan
- p. 95–96Orestes and Electra invoke their murdered father at his tomb; children preserve the dead father's memory and line, like corks holding up a net.read · scan
Herodotus, An Account of EgyptVol. 33
- p. 20–22Daughters are forced to support parents while sons are not.read · scan
- p. 58A son carries out his mother's command to recover his brother's corpse for burial.read · scan
- p. 67–68Pledging the father's corpse and forfeiting kinsmen's burial ties debt to family duties.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, On Old AgeVol. 9
- p. 73Cyrus addresses his sons, asking them to obey him and preserve his memory by loyalty and piety.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 145–151Aeneas laments the loss of his aged father, ease of his cares and solace of his pain.read · scan
- p. 178Aeneas honors his dead father's ashes with filial piety on the anniversary.read · scan
- p. 197The father's shade appears to his son, still loved after death, bearing divine commands.read · scan
- p. 210Aeneas embraces his father's shade three times in vain; Anchises longs to show him his race.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 394Petitioners seek to move the remains of deceased relatives and ancestors to new resting places.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 198His mother died young but spent last years with him.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 138Summary notes his mother Monnica's death and her life and character, and baptism of his son.read · scan
- p. 153–154Mother's dying wishes to her sons; her wish to lie beside her husband after a harmonious marriage.read · scan
- p. 158Asks readers to remember his parents Monica and Patricius, through whom he came into life, and fulfil his mother's last request.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 915–916Kindness and humility to aged parents, giving kinsmen their due, and forbidding the killing of children for fear of poverty.read · scan
BeowulfVol. 49
- p. 34–36Hildeburh lays her son beside his uncle Hnaef on the funeral pyre.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 134–135On his father's death he buries him, mourns him and pays off his debts.read · scan
- p. 198–200The dying father charges his son to be kind to the damsel and the son swears an oath.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 156–157Manfredi asks Dante to tell his daughter Costanza of his state so her prayers may help.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 125He asks that Margaret be present at his burial; approves her kiss.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 22–23Cellini earns money to help his father and household.read · scan
- p. 28He sends earnings to his father and helps his family.read · scan
- p. 82–83Returning to Florence, Cellini learns his father and household died of plague; only his sister survived.read · scan
- p. 88–89He took the money home to comfort his poor old father; the Pope praises the father's virtue.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 100Claudius calls Hamlet son; Gertrude urges him to stay; filial obligation to mourn a father for a term.read · scan
- p. 177–178Ophelia's father's death, her brother's return and Hamlet's exile weigh on the household.read · scan
- p. 182–183Laertes mourns his father's death and demands satisfactionread · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 310Edgar reveals himself as Gloucester's son and tells how he guided his blinded father until the old man died between joy and grief.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 358A dutiful son who supported his mother to her death.read · scan
- p. 363He supported his aged mother and comforted his father-in-law.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 391–392His mother's long wish for his marriage and priesthood; his conforming to her will after her death.read · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Manoa will gather kindred and bury his son in his father's house; virgins lament his ill-chosen marriage.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, LettersVol. 48
- p. 334–335Consoles children on the death of their father, who fulfilled his vow and work.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 365Grief-stricken children compose the epitaph; his heart was devoted to family and friends.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 12–13Epitaph for his parents: fifty-five years of marriage, thirteen children raised reputably; the son's filial regard.read · scan
Edmund Burke, A Letter to a Noble LordVol. 24
- p. 406Inverted order: his heirs went before him; he owes filial piety to his dead son's memory.read · scan
William Cowper, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 542–543Poet mourns his mother, recalling her childhood kindness and his early loss.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 48–50Epitaph for the poet's father, honest man and friend.read · scan
- p. 238–239Prayer for a host's aged father, mother, son and sisters, hoping for a family reunited in Heaven.read · scan
- p. 425–426Prayer for Fintry's domestic bliss and filial tears at his deathbed.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 399–401Son's grief and guilt over his blind, plundered father.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 184The son provides for his father, saying he will never know want.read · scan
William Cullen Bryant, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1221–1223Speaker hopes to see his father and the young mother in the next grave.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 341Cousins visit Ida and help with the burial.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 127A son's assessment of his father's character, place and influence after his death.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 930–931The lock carries the kiss her mother left when she died.read · scan
- p. 935–936Her childhood pet-name and the lost voices of the dead are recalled, and she asks him to be their heir.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1317Evangeline kneels and wails beside her dead father, then swoons upon his bosom.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 226Jemmy expects to find mother and relatives, and shrugs off his father's death: 'Me no help it.'read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1022–1024His dead mother, gentle and good, and the empty house shape his loneliness; her brother is scorned.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 192Harris honors his strong-minded mother, who raised him alone and enforced discipline; he means to spend his wages on her.read · scan
Louis Pasteur, The Physiological Theory of FermentationVol. 38
- p. 271–273Pasteur dedicates his work to a parent's memory, acknowledging filial debt for counsel and example.read · scan
Matthew Arnold, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1128–1130Son remembers his father's cheerful radiant vigor.read · scan
- p. 1130–1132Sons sheltered under father's strength, now left unshaded.read · scan
- p. 1133–1134Son praises the father as faithful shepherd.read · scan
9c.Limits of obedience: conscience and calling against parents
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 715–716The Buddha left home though his weeping parents were unwilling, retiring to the houseless life.read · scan
- p. 745Candidate must have his parents' permission to be ordained.read · scan
- p. 751–752A young priest lodges unrecognized with his own parents, showing that parental ties need not hinder the monastic life.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 374–375Jesus says his true mother and brethren are those who hear and do the word of God, over kinship by blood.read · scan
- p. 380Burying one's father and bidding farewell to household are put behind following Jesus.read · scan
- p. 393–394Disciples must hate father, mother, wife, children in comparison to following him.read · scan
- p. 401–402Those who leave house, wife, parents, children for the kingdom will be repaid.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 910–911Abraham gently warns his father, forgives him and parts; is granted Isaac and Jacob.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 10–11Daughter defies her father's fear and his plea, insisting on her purpose.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 330–331Francis weds Poverty against his father's will, before the bishop and in his father's sightread · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 122–123A father withholds his blessing until his son fights; the son is torn between filial duty and his friend.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 24Both youths leave Florence angry with their parents; Cellini quarrels with his father over music.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 417Zoraida answers her father's sorrow, insisting she could do no other; a father's curses are to be feared.read · scan
- p. 454–455Don Louis's servants are sent to report to his father, while he refuses to return home and goes with his brother's circle.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 387His mother tries to dissuade him from rebuilding; he asks her blessing and leave to be an 'undutiful son', and she relents.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 250–251Children left their parents' dainty homes for the desert.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 13–14The man's wife and children think him deranged, mock and neglect him, while he pities them and warns of the coming destruction.read · scan
- p. 14–15Wife and children cry after him but he stops his ears and runs for eternal life.read · scan
- p. 177–178Christian's wife and children were unwilling to go and were left behind in the City of Destruction.read · scan
- p. 209–210Mercy leaves father, mother and relations, as Ruth left hers for Naomi, feeling heavy-hearted for those left behind.read · scan
- p. 297–298Valiant left father and mother who could not stay him; Christian had left wife and children; Christiana and sons follow.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 326–327Egmont urges the son to swerve from his father's ways; Ferdinand suffers over his father's deed.read · scan
- p. 328–329Ferdinand is torn between filial obedience to his father and Egmont's plea.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 394–395Lucia keeps her vow from her mother, fearing blame or that she would reveal it.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-RelianceVol. 5
- p. 62Would shun father, mother, wife and brother when his genius calls.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, CompensationVol. 5
- p. 87–88Sons and daughters soften a fierce man; genius must hate father and mother, wife and child for truth.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 250–251She must leave her sisters and father's palace forever, and win a Prince who forgets his parents.read · scan
9d.Ungrateful and unnatural children
See also: Madness 6d · Old Age 8c · Wisdom 8b · Emotion 1d
Marcus Tullius Cicero, On FriendshipVol. 9
- p. 18–19Natural affection between parents and children can only be severed by shocking wickedness.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, On Old AgeVol. 9
- p. 52Sophocles' sons sought to remove his management of property on grounds of weak intellect.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 210Those who disown brothers, expel parents or defraud dependents are condemned.read · scan
Plutarch, PericlesVol. 12
- p. 72Pericles's son Xanthippus, prodigal and resentful of his father's frugality, borrows in his name, reviles him and stays estranged until death.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 127Discontent with parents or children makes a bad son or father.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 341A disobedient idle son grieves his father to death and burdens his widowed mother.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 84–85Daughter betrays her father to free the prisoner and hopes for marriage.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 139–140The narrator says that in those days the son spared not the father, showing a corrupt age.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 411Zoraida refuses to let anyone touch her sleeping father, though she is abandoning him.read · scan
- p. 411The father awakens and cries thieves; Zoraida covers her eyes, unwilling to look at him.read · scan
- p. 413Zoraida keeps her head in the narrator's hands so as not to look at her father.read · scan
- p. 415Father despairs and leaps into sea; Zoraida grieves for him and pleads that her father and countrymen be released.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusVol. 19
- p. 248–250Faustus curses the parents that engendered him.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 226–227A forged letter makes Gloucester believe Edgar plots against him; Edmund insinuates that sons want fathers as wards.read · scan
- p. 230Goneril resents her father, plans to slight him and his knights and enlist Regan; Old fools are babes again.read · scan
- p. 232–233Lear discovers abating kindness from his daughter and her household; he angrily asks Oswald who he is, 'My lady's father'.read · scan
- p. 233Lear gave all to his daughters and made them his mothers, reversing parent and child roles.read · scan
- p. 233–236Goneril confronts her father over his riotous knights; Lear cannot recognize his daughter's frowning treatment and disowns her as degenerate.read · scan
- p. 236–238Lear curses Goneril, praying for her sterility or a thankless child, lamenting filial ingratitude sharper than a serpent's tooth.read · scan
- p. 238–239Lear curses Goneril as a father, weeps at her cruelty, and turns to his other daughter for kindness.read · scan
- p. 240–241Lear regrets wronging Cordelia and laments being a kind father repaid with ingratitude; Fool compares the daughters.read · scan
- p. 242Edmund deceives his father and betrays his brother Edgar, staging a false attack.read · scan
- p. 243–244Edmund slanders Edgar as would-be parricide, invoking the child's bond to the father; Gloucester believes and disowns him.read · scan
- p. 252Lear cannot believe his daughter and son-in-law would outrage him; filial ingratitude wounds the father, swelling as hysterical sorrow.read · scan
- p. 252–254Lear as a father demands to speak with his daughter and is refused.read · scan
- p. 255Lear pleads with Regan against Goneril's unkindness; Regan urges him, as an old father, to ask forgiveness and return.read · scan
- p. 255–258Lear reminds his daughters of the bond of childhood and gratitude, calls Goneril a plague-sore in his blood.read · scan
- p. 258Daughters haggle down their father's retinue from fifty to twenty-five to none; Lear laments unnatural children.read · scan
- p. 258–262Regan and Goneril shut their doors on their father, saying he must be taught by his own folly.read · scan
- p. 262–264Lear blames his two pernicious daughters, saying the elements owe him no unkindness.read · scan
- p. 266–267Gloucester laments the unnatural treatment of the king and resolves to succor him.read · scan
- p. 267–269Lear calls filial ingratitude like a mouth tearing the hand that feeds it.read · scan
- p. 269–270Lear blames his unkind daughters for Tom's ruin; filial ingratitude and the bond of parent and child; Edgar counsels obeying parents.read · scan
- p. 271Gloucester grieves over the son who sought his life and the daughters who seek Lear's death; children turn on parents.read · scan
- p. 274Lear arraigns his daughters for kicking their father, seeking the cause of their hard hearts.read · scan
- p. 274–275Edgar sees Lear 'childed' as he is 'fathered', both wronged by their kin.read · scan
- p. 277–278Gloucester expects winged vengeance on children who wrong a father.read · scan
- p. 278–280Gloucester calls on Edmund, learns Edmund betrayed him, and recognizes he wronged Edgar.read · scan
- p. 284Albany denounces the daughters as tigers who have maddened a gracious aged father; she severs herself from her sap.read · scan
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a DreamVol. 26
- p. 43–45Segismund confronts the father who chained him; blood-kinship without recognition, instinct of kin, and a son's grievance against a father.read · scan
- p. 45Father and son quarrel over inheritance and wrong; the son threatens to avenge himself on his father.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 304Adam imagines his descendants cursing him and compares himself to a disobedient son questioning his father.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 281–284Orgon recounts his benefactions to Tartuffe and his betrayal; his mother sides against him.read · scan
- p. 284–287Orgon, enraged, nearly insults his own mother.read · scan
William Penn, More Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 373Rebelling against a father or being an ill husband disqualifies a man as moral.read · scan
Edmund Burke, A Letter to a Noble LordVol. 24
- p. 417–419Noble traitors disowned their families and committed parricide on ancestry and posterity.read · scan
Charles Lamb, On the Tragedies of ShakspereVol. 27
- p. 310Lear turned out by his daughters; Cordelia's role as daughter lessened by Tate's love plot.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 178A father ignores his daughter's advice and repents in prison, crying that he should have listened to her.read · scan
Victor Hugo, Preface to CromwellVol. 39
- p. 376–377Cromwell as father and husband, tormented by his royalist daughter.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1078–1079He accuses his sons of ingratitude and deceit as they leave him dying.read · scan
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