The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride

by

William Goldman

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Princess Bride makes teaching easy.

Buttercup's Father Character Analysis

Morgenstern writes in The Princess Bride that Buttercup's father isn't particularly handsome, so nobody is exactly certain how he fathered the most beautiful woman on earth. He and his wife, Buttercup's mother, fight constantly and keep score of who wins. He often loses. Buttercup's father seems to be a kind man; he decides to leave Westley an acre in his will. He's also a horrendous dairy farmer and his milk is only drinkable because of the care that his cows receive from Westley.
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Buttercup's Father Character Timeline in The Princess Bride

The timeline below shows where the character Buttercup's Father appears in The Princess Bride. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter One: The Bride
The Value of Cleverness and Humility Theme Icon
Love, Loyalty, and Friendship Theme Icon
...Farm Boy. Both Horse and Farm Boy do everything that Buttercup asks them to, and Buttercup's father vows to leave Farm Boy an acre in his will. Buttercup's parents annoy her by... (full context)
The Value of Cleverness and Humility Theme Icon
Returning to the story, Buttercup's father looks out the window of their house and begs Buttercup's mother to come to the... (full context)
The Value of Cleverness and Humility Theme Icon
Love, Loyalty, and Friendship Theme Icon
Fairytales and Growing Up Theme Icon
After dinner later, Buttercup's father remarks that Westley didn't do anything special to the cows. Buttercup's mother gives Buttercup a... (full context)
Fairytales and Growing Up Theme Icon
...Buttercup gets home after delivering milk and finds her parents sitting still at the table. Buttercup's father whispers that the Dread Pirate Roberts attacked Westley's ship and killed him. Buttercup hurries to... (full context)
Chapter Six: The Festivities
Fact vs. Fiction  Theme Icon
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
Fairytales and Growing Up Theme Icon
...Buttercup is beautiful, but has no heart, and suggests that they get rid of her. Buttercup's father and mother strangle baby Buttercup and Buttercup wakes up gasping. (full context)