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ABSTRACT
The father figure has a strong but often hidden presence in Marie-Claire Blais‟
novels. Although frequently absent from daily life, fathers have an important impact on
the family. Blais‟ early novels present traditional fathers, while more recent novels
portray a modern figure. The dissolution of the traditional role for fathers has led to
confusion: expectations and responsibilities are no longer clearly defined.
The presentation of father figures rests with the narrator. Every narrator offers a
unique perspective, which changes with age. We propose to study the father figure
throughout Blais‟ novels in order to determine the influence of the narrative perspective,
the impact that age has on this perspective, and also the influence of Québécois societal
transformations on the portrayal of father figures within Blais‟ work. We will examine
the father figure from a child‟s perspective, before moving on to the perspective of
adolescents, young adults and finally, adults.
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