Violet’s father Character Analysis in Feed

Violet’s father is one of the novel’s most poignant characters. A highly intelligent, often argumentative man, he teaches “dead languages” (mostly computer languages) at a university. He’s extremely critical of his own society, especially the overpowering culture of conspicuous consumption. However, Violet’s father also recognizes that having a feed is a necessity in America: he gets his own feed, which he carries around on his back (giving himself a permanent hunch) and arranges for a feed to be implanted in Violet’s brain. Toward the end of the novel, when complications with Violet’s feed threaten to kill her, Violet’s father personal blames himself for his daughter’s suffering. While Titus initially thinks of Violet’s father as a “weird” old man, it slowly becomes clear that he’s one of the only characters in the book who understands how horrifying the society of Feed really is.

Violet’s father Quotes in Feed

The Feed quotes below are all either spoken by Violet’s father or refer to Violet’s father. 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:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Candlewick Press edition of Feed published in 2012.

He said in a high-pitched voice, like a teensy-weensy kind of voice, "Ooooooh! Observe the remarkable verdure! Little friend, I am master of all I survey."

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 137

Explanation and Analysis:

"It's almost time for foosball. It will be a gala. Go along, little child. Go back and hang with the eloi."
"What are the eloi?"
"It's a reference," he said, snotty. "It's from The Time Machine. H. G. Wells."
I stepped closer to him. "What does it mean?" I asked. "Because I'm sick of—"
"Read it."
"I'm sick of being told I'm stupid."
"So read it, and you'll know."
"Tell me."
"Read it."

Related Characters: (speaker), (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 291

Explanation and Analysis:

Violet’s father Character Timeline in Feed

The timeline below shows where the character Violet’s father appears in Feed. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Apathy, Happiness, and Satisfaction Theme Icon

...dad does “some kind of banking thing,” and that his mom is “in design.” Violet’s father is a professor who teaches dead languages, such as BASIC. Violet also shows Titus that... (full context)

...chatting with his friends. He sees his family, but doesn’t really talk to them. His father doesn’t talk much, and his mother spends most of her time with Smell Factor, sometimes... (full context)

Violet introduces Titus to her father, who uses complex vocabulary that Titus can’t understand. Titus notices that Violet’s father carries an... (full context)

...more interesting than his, but he enjoys conversing with her. However, in Titus’s opinion, Violet’s father is “an insane psychopath.” (full context)

Violet’s father arrives at the hospital shortly after Titus gets there. After speaking to a doctor, he... (full context)

...Violet could be “uninsane” again. Just then, the nurses announce that Violet is awake. Violet’s father goes to see her, leaving Titus alone. (full context)

Titus watches as Violet and her father try to petition FeedTech for free repairs, since Violet’s father can’t pay for the tests... (full context)

...that her mother never had a feed because she didn’t want a “brain mole.” Violet’s father’s parents didn’t have the money to buy feeds. So both of Violet’s parents went through... (full context)

...Violet’s house, and she’s waiting outside. She tells him not to come in, since her father will know he’s mal. Titus tells Violet that her to-do list will take about five... (full context)

...has a headache. He finds that he’s still on the lawn, next to Violet. Violet’s father stares out the window, clearly unhappy that his daughter is spending so much time with... (full context)

...returned to Violet’s house, Violet climbs out of the upcar, and her arm freezes. Violet’s father tries to help her, but she insists on climbing down from the upcar on her... (full context)

...in California and mysterious explosions in New Jersey. When he arrives at Violet’s house, Violet’s father lets him inside and takes him to Violet. (full context)

Violet’s father explains that Violet can barely speak anymore. He recalls how, years ago, he decided that... (full context)

Titus can only say, “I’m sorry,” but Violet’s father replies, “Sorrow comes so cheap.” He accuses Titus of taking Violet to the club and... (full context)