Dad Character Analysis in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

Dad is Simon, Nora, and Alice's dad. Though Simon loves his dad, he's also put off by the fact that Dad has an affinity for making jokes in poor taste about gay people. For much of the novel, Simon can't tell if Dad is actually homophobic or just thinks his jokes are funny. He reasons that Dad probably just doesn't understand how rude his jokes are, given that both Mom and Dad are nonreligious and are Democrats. However, after Simon calls Dad out on his jokes, Dad does apologize, stops making them, and assures Simon that he'll always be supportive and loving. Both Mom and Dad are very tuned into the changes their children go through, and Simon complains that he can't even change his socks without attracting far too much attention.

Dad Quotes in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda quotes below are all either spoken by Dad or refer to Dad. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Leah once said that she'd rather have people call her fat directly than have to sit there and listen to them talking shit about some other girl's weight. I actually think I agree with that. Nothing is worse than the secret humiliation of being insulted by proxy.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Leah, Alice Spier, Nora Spier, Mom, Dad

Page Number and Citation: 17

Explanation and Analysis:

I need to spend some time in my head with this new Simon. My parents have a way of ruining things like this. They get so curious. It's like they have this idea of me, and whenever I step outside of that, it blows their minds. There's something so embarrassing about that in a way I can't even describe.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Mom, Dad

Page Number and Citation: 54

Explanation and Analysis:

But I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. I get a girlfriend. I have a beer. And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Mom, Dad

Page Number and Citation: 56

Explanation and Analysis:

It's Christmas Eve day, and something feels a little bit off.

Not bad, just off. I don't know how to explain it. We're hitting everyone of the Spier traditions.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Alice Spier, Nora Spier, Mom, Dad

Related Symbols: Holidays

Page Number and Citation: 151

Explanation and Analysis:

In this moment, all I want is for things to feel like Christmas again. I want it to feel how it used to feel.

Related Characters: Simon Spier (speaker), Alice Spier, Nora Spier, Mom, Dad

Related Symbols: Holidays

Page Number and Citation: 157

Explanation and Analysis:

“I owe you an apology, kid.”

I look up at him.

“What you said on Friday. About the gay jokes.”

Related Characters: Dad (speaker), Simon Spier, Mom

Page Number and Citation: 247

Explanation and Analysis:

Dad Character Timeline in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The timeline below shows where the character Dad appears in Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Family, Change, and Growing Up Theme Icon

As Mom and Alice discuss one contestant, Dad insists that contestant is gay and a "one-man Pride Parade." Simon thinks he agrees with... (full context)

...are opened, Simon tries to casually tell his family he has something to talk about. Dad starts joking and suggests that Simon is either gay, pregnant, or got someone else pregnant.... (full context)

...anyone in the first place. Simon gets it, and Alice promises to tell Mom and Dad about Theo. (full context)

Simon is exhausted all week, as it's two weeks until Oliver opens. Dad is sad that he has to record The Bachelor to accommodate Simon's rehearsal schedule. On... (full context)

When they get to Simon's house, Simon lurches inside. He finds Mom and Dad watching TV. They ask him why he's home, and Simon's explanation clearly shows that he's... (full context)

Mom comes back inside and sends Simon to get water. Mom and Dad talk for a moment alone and then come into the kitchen. Simon admits that this... (full context)

...cry before. After dinner, Simon listens to music in his bedroom. Around nine, Mom and Dad knock and ask if they can talk. They establish that Simon shouldn't get drunk, and... (full context)

Simon says he only hesitated to come out because he knew Mom and Dad would make it a big deal. Simon insists that they make a big deal out... (full context)

The play goes well, but Abby disappears immediately afterwards. Simon feels miserable. Dad gives Simon a ridiculous bouquet and asks on the way home if he's friends with... (full context)

...says he has a message from Alice: Simon and Bram are to refuse Mom and Dad's offer of dinner out, and they should go home to do homework—which translates to two... (full context)

...come out from backstage, and Nora flings herself at Alice for a hug. Mom and Dad give her a bouquet, and they all join one huge group with Bram, Abby, and... (full context)

...and Simon are seated in the living room with textbooks by the time Mom and Dad get home. Mom looks slightly disapproving that the boys were home alone, and Simon knows... (full context)