If I had a Father. a Drama
The drama unfolds in a sculptor's studio, where Arthur Gervaise, a dedicated artist, grapples with his creative process and personal turmoil. He is visited by Warren, a friend, who expresses concern over Gervaise's reclusive nature and lack of social engagement. Their conversation reveals Gervaise's obsession with a clay figure he is sculpting, which he refers to as his Psyche, embodying his artistic aspirations and emotional struggles. As the narrative progresses, Gervaise's past intertwines with his present when Constance, a young woman he once cared for, re-enters his life. She reveals her engagement to Mr. Waterfield, a wealthy suitor, which deeply unsettles Gervaise. His feelings for Constance resurface, complicating his emotional state and artistic focus. Meanwhile, Colonel Gervaise, Arthur's estranged father, observes his son's distress from a distance, grappling with his own regrets about their fractured relationship. The play explores themes of love, identity, and the burdens of artistic ambition, as Gervaise confronts his feelings for Constance while navigating the expectations of society and his own artistic integrity. The tension between personal desire and professional duty culminates in a poignant examination of the human condition, leaving the audience to ponder the complexities of love and the sacrifices made in pursuit of one's passion.
By George MacDonald · First published 1864 · Genre: Drama, Family, Psychological · 4 chapters · 38,181 words
First lines
SCENE. -- _A Sculptor's studio_. ARTHUR GERVAISE _working at a clay figure and humming a tune. A knock_.
_Ger._ Come in. (_Throws a wet cloth over the clay. Enter_ WARREN _by the door communicating with the house_.) Ah, Warren! How do you do?
What this Textopian page supports
If I had a Father. a Drama is listed on Textopian as a novel by George MacDonald, dated 1864 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: George MacDonald
- Date: 1864 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Family, Psychological, Literary
- Length: 38,181 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 1,510 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for If I had a Father. a Drama by George MacDonald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
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Genres
- Drama — The book is explicitly labeled as a drama, focusing on emotional and relational conflicts.
- Family — The central theme revolves around familial relationships, particularly the absence of a father figure.
- Psychological — Explores the psychological impact of missing paternal influence on characters.
- Literary — Emphasizes character development and thematic depth over plot-driven narrative.
Tags
drama · family · fatherhood · relationships · identity · loss · redemption · emotional · conflict · self-discovery · narrative · theater
Contents
- Act I
- Act II
- Act III
- Act IV