--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father became a mythical figure, more…" description: "\"“My father became a mythical figure, more force than man. . .he was a force my mother would use as a threat of wrath and punishment.\" In \"Father Close,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/dagoberto-gilb-65801_parenting_my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more_1461196.jpg" --- # My father became a mythical figure, more force than man… ![“My father became a mythical figure, more force than man. . .he was a force my mother would use as a threat of wrath and punishment." In "Father Close, Father Far" New California Writing” quote by Dagoberto Gilb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/dagoberto-gilb-65801_parenting_my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more_1461196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/dagoberto-gilb-65801_parenting_my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more_1461196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/dagoberto-gilb-65801_parenting_my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more_1461196.jpg) > ““My father became a mythical figure, more force than man. . .he was a force my mother would use as a threat of wrath and punishment." In "Father Close, Father Far" New California Writing”” [Dagoberto Gilb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagoberto-gilb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator describes his father as an exaggerated, powerful presence used by his mother to intimidate and control. **In simple terms:** Father is portrayed as a larger‑than‑life figure used for threats. Key Takeaway Recognize how mythic images can shape family dynamics. Themes family power myth control parenting Mood reflective somber Type analytical critical When to use this quote - parent‑child relationships - family storytelling - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology symbolism authority Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing a parent as a myth affect your perception of them? - What are the risks of using fear as a parenting tool? A Different Perspective Mythic portrayals may oversimplify complex human behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Close Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-father-1816351/) [Father Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-close-2293842/) [Father Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-far-3867552/) [Father Mythical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-mythical-5279513/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Punishment Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment-father-5279514/) ## Related quotes > [I was very close to my father. Very close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-coogan/i-was-very-close-to-my-father-very-close/) [Jackie Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-coogan/) > [Our Heavenly Father is far too wise and loves us far too much to give us everything we ask for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/our-heavenly-father-is-far-too-wise-and-loves-us-far-too-much-to-give/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [Who I am as a father is far more important to me than the public perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-willis/who-i-am-as-a-father-is-far-more-important-to-me-than-the-public/) [Bruce Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-willis/) > [“Father is close, Mother is close, but neither is as close as Chairman Mao.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jung-chang/father-is-close-mother-is-close-but-neither-is-as-close-as-chairman/) [Jung Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jung-chang/) > [My father was close with Krishna garu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devi-sri-prasad/my-father-was-close-with-krishna-garu/) [Devi Sri Prasad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devi-sri-prasad/) > [“Hugh had led men into battle with success and was on reasonably good terms with the king, though they would never be intimates; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-higginbotham/hugh-had-led-men-into-battle-with-success-and-was-on-reasonably-good/) [Susan Higginbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-higginbotham/) > [“I was close enough to my father to see that he’d heard the exchange. For a moment, I wondered if he’d silence the fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-livingston/i-was-close-enough-to-my-father-to-see-that-he-d-heard-the-exchange/) [Lesley Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-livingston/) > [I held my father's hand while he died of cancer, and it's really painful when you do something like that up close and personal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-held-my-father-s-hand-while-he-died-of-cancer-and-it-s-really/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I was really close to my father since I was young. He always told me that I had to work in order to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-aldo/i-was-really-close-to-my-father-since-i-was-young-he-always-told-me/) [Jose Aldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-aldo/) > [I wasn't close to my father, but I wanted to be all my life. He had a funny sense of humor, and he laughed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-garland/i-wasn-t-close-to-my-father-but-i-wanted-to-be-all-my-life-he-had-a/) [Judy Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-garland/) > [When I pray, I feel close to my Father in Heaven, and I feel His guiding hand in my life. If there is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-clayson/when-i-pray-i-feel-close-to-my-father-in-heaven-and-i-feel-his/) [Jane Clayson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-clayson/) > [I didn't feel particularly close to my father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/i-didn-t-feel-particularly-close-to-my-father/) [Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/) > [I was extremely close to my father, inseparable. Where we hung out most of the time was the pub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/i-was-extremely-close-to-my-father-inseparable-where-we-hung-out-most/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [I was very close to my father. At the age of ten I wanted to do plays, and my father was very encouraging. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/i-was-very-close-to-my-father-at-the-age-of-ten-i-wanted-to-do-plays/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) ## More by Dagoberto Gilb > [“I think some people deserve to get their asses kicked”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagoberto-gilb/i-think-some-people-deserve-to-get-their-asses-kicked/) [Dagoberto Gilb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagoberto-gilb/) > [“This morning I heard : the hesitancy in her voice wasn't ordinary sincerity but a lot of it, and her tone wasn't only friendly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagoberto-gilb/this-morning-i-heard-the-hesitancy-in-her-voice-wasn-t-ordinary/) [Dagoberto Gilb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagoberto-gilb/) > [“My favorite ethnic group is smart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagoberto-gilb/my-favorite-ethnic-group-is-smart/) [Dagoberto Gilb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagoberto-gilb/) [Explore all 4 Dagoberto Gilb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagoberto-gilb/) ## More Parenting quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/) [Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As members of the Church, there are things you cannot do. For one, you cannot take a Las Vegas-style vacation. I do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-grant-bangerter/as-members-of-the-church-there-are-things-you-cannot-do-for-one-you/) [William Grant Bangerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-grant-bangerter/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) [Browse all 55,672 Parenting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My father became a mythical figure, more force than man. . .he was a force my mother would use as a threat of wrath and punishment.\" In \"Father Close, Father Far\" New California Writing”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dagoberto Gilb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagoberto-gilb/my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more-force-than-man-he-was-a-force/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Parenting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagoberto-gilb/my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more-force-than-man-he-was-a-force/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/dagoberto-gilb-65801_parenting_my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more_1461196.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/dagoberto-gilb-65801_parenting_my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more_1461196.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/dagoberto-gilb-65801_parenting_my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more_1461196.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My father became a mythical figure, more force than man. . .he was a force my mother would use as a threat…” — Dagoberto Gilb", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dagoberto Gilb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dagoberto-gilb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“My father became a mythical figure,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagoberto-gilb/my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more-force-than-man-he-was-a-force/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dagoberto-gilb/my-father-became-a-mythical-figure-more-force-than-man-he-was-a-force/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```