# Father — The Autobiography of an Idea character guide

> Father in The Autobiography of an Idea by Louis H. Sullivan.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-child

## Who they are

Louis's father, Patrick Sullivan, often referred to formally.

## Relationships

### [The Child](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/characters/the_child)

_family_

Father is a stern but caring parent to the child, representing authority and guidance in early life.

### [Louis Henri Sullivan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/characters/louis_henri_sullivan)

_family_

Father is Louis's parent, with a relationship marked by expectation and occasional tension.

### [Louis Henri Sullivan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/characters/louis_henri_sullivan)

_family_

Father is Louis's parent, with a relationship marked by expectation and occasional tension.

## In the story

### [Folly Cove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/chapters/folly-cove)

Goes fishing with the child, offers money to the hired man who rescues the child, and later explains rowing to the child after a frightening episode at sea.

### [III: And Then Came Spring!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/chapters/iii-and-then-came-spring)

The father is described as having nondescript notions, attracted to art and music, and attending Theodore Parker's sermons for the oratory rather than doctrine. He leans toward Unitarianism only incidentally.

### [V: Newburyport](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/chapters/v-newburyport)

Father is a disciplinarian who implements a rigorous physical training regimen for his son, including early morning runs and swimming lessons. He also patiently teaches the child about the curvature of the sea.

### [Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/chapters/vi-boston)

Louis's father, who moves the family to Halifax, imposes rigorous training, and places Louis in the Brimmer School.

### [VII: Boston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/chapters/vii-boston)

Louis's father, who proposes that Louis become a scientific farmer and agrees to let him stay in Boston for his education.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/characters/father
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_an_idea_se/characters