Father Character Analysis in Fever 1793

Mattie’s father, Lucille’s husband, and William Farnsworth Cook’s son isn’t named in the book. Lucille eloped with him at 17, although her family disapproved of her marrying a carpenter. He built the coffeehouse but died of a broken neck weeks after it opened, when Mattie was only four. Mattie remembers her mother being gentler and happier when Father was alive.

Father Character Timeline in Fever 1793

The timeline below shows where the character Father appears in Fever 1793. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Mothers, Daughters, and Familial Love Theme Icon

Ingenuity, Ambition, and Survival Theme Icon

...to listen, sits down in the spacious kitchen. Her family is just herself, Mother, and Grandfather, plus their employee, Eliza; together, they run the Cook Coffeehouse. Mattie’s father, a carpenter, had... (full context)

Mattie’s father had fallen off a ladder and died of a broken neck soon after the coffeehouse... (full context)

...entire city block” someday—a dry goods store, a restaurant, and an apothecary, just for starters. Grandfather tells Mattie she is “a Daughter of Liberty, a real American girl.” Mattie looks forward... (full context)

...notices how “pinch-faced and harsh” her mother looks and she remembers the days, back when Father was alive, that Mother was laughing and gentle. But now Mother is “a tired and... (full context)

Grandfather determines that Mother is alive. He gets Mattie to help him carry her into the... (full context)

...disastrous, with leaking coffee, burned biscuits, and quarrelsome customers. At the end of the day, Grandfather brings in Mr. Rowley. Eliza tells Mattie that Mr. Rowley isn’t “a proper physician, but... (full context)

Grandfather introduces Mr. Rowley, who’s experienced in “treating female complaints.” Mattie is skeptical, as he looks... (full context)

...to wake Lucille and drag her into a hot bath. Lucille weeps and calls Mattie’s father’s name. When they put her back to bed with fresh linens, she shivers until her... (full context)