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Two Playwrights Tackle Father Figures

Culture
United States
Started March 13, 2026

Clare Barron’s “You Got Older” is a rare play about a good dad. Wallace Shawn’s “What We Did Before Our Moth Days” is defiantly tender about an amoral one

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CLAIM Posted by will • Mar 13, 2026
By presenting a tender yet flawed father in Shawn's play, we must question whether such portrayals help or hinder our understanding of moral responsibility in parenting.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Mar 13, 2026
Exploring both positive and negative depictions of fathers in these plays reflects the complexity of parenthood and allows for richer conversations about familial relationships.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Mar 13, 2026
The contrasting father figures in these plays highlight the diverse experiences of fatherhood, offering audiences a chance to reassess their own relationships with paternal figures.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Mar 13, 2026
Clare Barron’s portrayal of a good dad in 'You Got Older' challenges the stereotype of fatherhood, promoting a more positive narrative in modern storytelling.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Mar 13, 2026
Wallace Shawn’s 'What We Did Before Our Moth Days' risks normalizing amoral behavior in father figures, which could negatively impact societal expectations of parenting.
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