Mirror Mirror on the Wall: Chapter 3 - On John the Father

[hearseeno]

Boundaries

Boundaries are those unwritten rules about who gets to do or know what. Who gets included and who doesn't.

In some families, the boundaries are permeable. You know those homes in the neighborhood in which all the kids of a certain age wander in and out kitchen, one of the son or daughter's close friends gets semi-adopted into the family

Comments

[nemoed]

I recently discovered this meta and goodness, I have to admit I'm completely blown away! I love the thoughtful and analytic in depth look you provide us with here and, because I'm my usual chatty self, will attempt to bounce some ideas on it back and forth - one character at a time ;)

John
First of all, I loved the thing with the pieta. I hadn't noticed that at first but you're right - the positioning is extremely similar and in some weird sort of way this is exactly what makes the show so much fun in my eyes: all those details that might just hold a hidden meaning.

You see, at first I was so caught up with all the drama surrounding the brothers that I hardly spared John more than a fleeting thought. He was the controlling father and who cared about the rest, right? Well, I'm certainly glad you changed my perspective here or, perhaps more precisely, broadened it and helped me gain a more complex view on him. Fear and guilt as the foundation of the man John turned into make a lot of sense and even lead us to more interesting questions.
The thing that caught my attention was the fact how John both attempted to prepare his sons (showing almost as blind a faith in Dean as Dean shows in his father) but also protecting them from the 'world of the hunters' as well. I find that very interesting considering that at some point John must have realized than something about Sam is just off (next point for discussion: exactly when was that and - more fascinating perhaps - when did his feelings for Sam change from 'Being afraid for Sam' to 'being partially afraid of Sam' since his youngest turned into the very thing John hated/feared?).

I thank you for giving me this glimpse into John and by the way, since I really enjoy your metas - I hope you don't mind if I friend you.

- Nemo ♥