In the Lake of the Woods

by

Tim O’Brien

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Paul Wade (mentioned by name only once in the novel) is John’s father, and the husband of Eleanor Wade. He plays an enormous role in the novel, insofar as he influences his son’s fondness for deception, manipulation, bullying, and charm. John’s father is a popular figure in his community, and John loves him deeply. At the same time, his father is a drunk, and frequently bullies him, calling him fat and effeminate for wanting to practice magic. Eventually, Paul commits suicide by hanging himself. John is in high school at the time, and is devastated. John learns to use fantasy to repress his sense of sadness, and imagines having long, loving conversations with his father long after his father’s death. It’s suggested many times that Paul’s death gives John a deep need to be loved, a need which influences his decision to enter politics as a career and to marry Kathy. It’s also implied that John learns to go by many names because his father called him names as a child.

Paul Wade Quotes in In the Lake of the Woods

The In the Lake of the Woods quotes below are all either spoken by Paul Wade or refer to Paul Wade. 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:
Vietnam, Authorship, Interpretation Theme Icon
).
Chapter 23 Quotes

Curiously, as he worked out the details, Wade found himself experiencing a dull new sympathy for his father. This was how it was. You go about your business. You carry the burdens, entomb yourself in silence, conceal demon-history from all others and most times from yourself. Nothing theatrical … and then one day you discover a length of clothesline. You amaze yourself.

Related Characters: Narrator (speaker), John Herman Wade, Paul Wade
Page Number: 241
Explanation and Analysis:
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Paul Wade Quotes in In the Lake of the Woods

The In the Lake of the Woods quotes below are all either spoken by Paul Wade or refer to Paul Wade. 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:
Vietnam, Authorship, Interpretation Theme Icon
).
Chapter 23 Quotes

Curiously, as he worked out the details, Wade found himself experiencing a dull new sympathy for his father. This was how it was. You go about your business. You carry the burdens, entomb yourself in silence, conceal demon-history from all others and most times from yourself. Nothing theatrical … and then one day you discover a length of clothesline. You amaze yourself.

Related Characters: Narrator (speaker), John Herman Wade, Paul Wade
Page Number: 241
Explanation and Analysis: