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This 400-year-old play shows why good dads are society’s unsung heroes

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Theresa Civantos Barber - published on 06/15/25
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When I saw King Lear on my book club list, I was nervous. Little did I know this classic play would change how I see the fathers in my life.

I'll be honest — when I saw King Lear on my Well​​-Read Mom book list this year, I was nervous. As a book nerd, I have so much respect for Shakespeare. But as a busy mom, would I have time to read the play carefully and really understand it? Little did I know this classic would change how I see the fathers in my life.

This magnificent play rewarded my weak efforts to read it. And as a mom watching the dads around me navigate everything from toddler tantrums to teenage drama, this 400-year-old play hit surprisingly close to home.

The story begins with King Lear making what seems like a reasonable decision. He wants to retire, divide his kingdom among his three daughters, and enjoy his golden years free of responsibility. What could go wrong?

Everything, as it turns out.

When Lear steps back from his duties as both king and father, his world collapses. His kingdom descends into civil war, families turn against each other, and the social order is turned upside down completely. It's a masterclass in what happens when fathers check out — even when they don’t mean any harm.

The real-world cost of absent fathers

Sadly, Lear's fictional abdication mirrors a very real crisis. Nearly 1 in 4 children in America live without a father in the home. In other Western nations, the statistics are similarly stark. And as Lear shows us, the consequences are scary: Boys growing up without dads are in crisis, the BBC reports.

The connection is clear. When fathers aren't present — physically or emotionally — the ripple effects touch everything from academic performance to mental health to future relationships. The success of our society, and of each individual child, depends in large part on how involved dads choose to be.

Hope in the story

The beautiful thing about King Lear is that it's not just a tragedy — it's a story of redemption. By the end of the play, Lear has learned something profound. Instead of seeing his loyal daughter Cordelia as someone who should serve his needs, he discovers the simple joy of just being with her.

In one of the play's most moving moments, Lear actually looks forward to going to prison with Cordelia, saying they'll “sing like birds in a cage” and will be happy just to be together. He's finally learned that love isn't about what people can do for you — it's about presence, connection, and simply enjoying each other's company.

Shakespeare

The everyday heroes among us

His total transformation reminded me of the dads I know who get this right. They're not perfect, but they've figured out what Lear took a whole tragedy to learn: Being present matters more than being impressive.

The dad who packs up to take the kids camping, knowing how much work it’s going to be. The father who makes time to coach his daughter’s soccer team, even when work is crazy. The man who puts his phone down to really listen when his teenager finally wants to talk. These aren't grand gestures—they're the quiet choices that build strong families and, by extension, strong communities.

Good dads deserve more credit

We notice when dads are absent, but we don't always celebrate when they show up consistently, day after day. King Lear reminds us that this presence isn't automatic. It's a choice, and it shapes everything around them. Let’s not make the mistake of taking good fathers for granted. 

St. Joseph offers the perfect model here. He wasn't Jesus's biological father, but he embraced his role fully, providing protection, guidance, and steady love. He understood that fatherhood is about faithful presence, not just provision.

Small choices, big impact

The dads who lead family prayers, who help with homework, who have difficult conversations with their kids, are preventing the chaos that unfolds when fathers abdicate their role. Every bedtime story read, every school event attended, every moment of patient listening builds stability, not just for their children but for all of society.

King Lear learned too late that the best gift he could give his daughter wasn't a kingdom. It was simply himself, present and engaged. The good news is that the fathers around us don't have to learn this lesson through tragedy. They can choose to be present today, tomorrow, and every day after that.

And after reading Shakespeare's take on what happens when fathers step back, I'm more grateful than ever for the dads who step up. King Lear took a tragedy to learn what good dads know instinctively: Showing up is everything. In a world where real presence is increasingly rare, the dads who won’t stop showing up for their families are unsung heroes.

Thank you, dads who keep putting in the hard work for your families. You deserve the world. 

Tag a dad you know who needs to hear this today!

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