50 pages • 1 hour read
Suzan-Lori ParksFather Comes Home From the Wars
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Set during the early 1860s, Suzan-Lori Parks' Father Comes Home From the Wars follows Hero, an enslaved man who grapples with the offer of freedom if he fights for the Confederacy alongside his enslaver. As Hero navigates themes of loyalty, betrayal, and freedom, his journey intersects with others, including his wife Penny and fellow enslaved individuals Homer and Old Man, amid the backdrop of the Civil War. This work discusses enslavement, racialized physical abuse, racism, and sexual violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Suzan-Lori Parks' Father Comes Home From the Wars has been praised for its powerful exploration of slavery, personal freedom, and identity. Critics highlight the play's strong characters, lyrical language, and emotional depth. Some reviewers found it uneven in pacing, but most agree it is a poignant and thought-provoking work.
Who Should Read Father Comes Home From the Wars?
A deconstruction of mythology and identity, readers of Suzan-Lori Parks' Father Comes Home From the Wars will enjoy intricate narratives addressing slavery and freedom akin to Toni Morrison's Beloved and August Wilson's plays. Ideal for those who appreciate powerful, historical drama with profound thematic depth.