What were Jess's feelings towards Leslie's father in Bridge to Terabithia?

Jesse initially feels somewhat uncomfortable around Leslie's father. He even takes a certain dislike toward him. The main reason for this is jealousy—Jesse doesn't like the fact that Leslie's dad is taking up so much time that he, Jesse, could be spending with his close friend.

Without Leslie, Jesse feels bored and lonely, so it's not surprising that he feels somewhat resentful toward Leslie's dad for keeping her away from him. That's not to say that Leslie's dad is doing any of this to spite Jesse; he needs Leslie's help in making extensive renovations to their house.

But Jesse is too young, too insecure, and too immature to understand this. To make matters worse, Leslie's close, loving relationship with her father stands in stark contrast to Jesse's nonexistent relationship with his own dad. Seeing how well Leslie and her father get along together acts as a constant reminder to Jesse of just what he's missing in his own life.

Describe Jess's relationship with his father in Bridge to Terabithia.

The relationship between Jesse Aarons and his father can reasonably be described as not very close. There are a number of reasons for this. First and foremost, Mr. Aarons's job prevents him from developing close bonds with his son. Needing to work long hours to support his family means that Mr. Aarons never gets to spend much time with them. Inevitably, this has a damaging impact on his relationship with Jesse.

Jesse and his dad also have different personalities, which puts them at odds. Jesse is good at art and loves to draw. But Mr. Aarons is more of a macho type of guy who doesn't think that boys should be spending their time engaging in activities he regards as effeminate.

When Jesse was in first grade and told his dad about his artistic ambitions, Mr. Aarons was far from pleased. He very nearly accused the “old ladies” at Jesse's school of turning his son into a homosexual.

Mr. Aarons's intemperate outburst had an immediate negative impact on Jesse; he thought his dad would be proud of him and was hurt and disappointed by his reaction. Even years after the event, Jesse hasn't forgotten about it, a clear indication of just how badly it has affected both him and the relationship he has with his father.

Explain the relationship between Jess and his dad in the movie Bridge to Terabithia.

For the most part, the film version of Bridge to Terabithia is a faithful adaptation of the book. It keeps key scenes, doesn't change much regarding characters, and nails the emotional core of the book. For example, the film does a wonderful job of conveying to viewers the relationship that exists between Jess and Leslie, and this is why the film is just as devastating to watch as the book is to read. When Leslie dies, we are heartbroken right alongside of Jess in both versions.

In terms of the film's representation of the relationship between Jess and his dad, this is also much the same in the book as it is in the movie. It is clear that the relationship between them is strained. There is a scene in the film wherein we see Jess's dad get incredibly angry over a set of missing keys. This shows us that Jess's dad is a tough task master with little ability to soften his responses for his young son. He's a hard man, and it takes Leslie's death for Jess to finally see that his dad does indeed love him. The scene with Jess and his dad crying together in the forest is an important scene because we see that Jess's dad truly does care about Jess and can be soft for him. While the film does do a decent job of showing the dad's hardness, it does fail to sell it as well as the book because the film can't give us Jess's thoughts the same way that the book does.

How does Jess interact with his family members in Bridge to Terabithia?

Jessie is the middle child and the only boy in his family, "smashed between four sisters...the older two had despised (him) ever since (he) stopped letting them dress (him) up and wheel (him) around in their rusty old doll carriage, and the littlest one cried if you looked at her cross-eyed".  He is tormented by Brenda and Ellie, who are spoiled adolescents, and ends up picking up the slack for the work they won't do, and Joyce Ann, the baby, just annoys him.  He is closest to May Belle, who, "going on seven...worshipped him" (Chapter 1).

Jessie's parents, exhausted and preoccupied with financial worries, don't have much time for him.  His mother heaps the bulk of responsibility for chores onto his shoulders, and his father is distant.  Jessie longs for a better relationship with him, wishing he were little like Joyce Ann and May Belle so his father would show affection to him - "it seemed...that he had been thought too big for that since the day he was born" (Chapter 2) .  When Jessie is in desperate need after Leslie's death, however, his parents, especially his father, are there for him.

How does Jess interact with his family members in Bridge to Terabithia?

Jesse is outnumbered 3:1 with sister in his family.  His mother is overly tired from a number of things, but to name a few--her kids, her work, her poverty, and life in general.  She neglects the children, and especially Jesse.

The father isn't much different.  He worries about money and neglects the children as well--after all, this is woman's work.

The chores are divided by male and female roles, which means Jesse does the majority of the chores while his sisters have more of a childhood.

This is why Jesse latches onto Leslie and her vivid imagination, and also why he neglects to invite Leslie to the museum with their teacher which leads to Leslie's death.

Only after Leslie's death does Jesse get the care and concern his parents have neglected to give him because of all the weight of their own worries.

How does Jess interact with his family members in Bridge to Terabithia?

Jess is a bit of an outcast in his family.  He is not the typical boy of the time, being more interested in art than he is in farming.  He is withdrawn and misunderstood by his parents, particularly his father.  He is the only boy and is relied upon to care for his two younger sisters and for the farm chores.  His two older sisters, adolescents concerned with social status, ridicule and/or ignore him.  His friendship with Leslie in part springs from a need to feel that he has an ally in the world.

In Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia, what is Jess's relationship with his father?

Point: Jesse and his father do not have much of a relationship, but the relationship that they do have is not terrible. I don't want to make it seem like the relationship is dangerous, inappropriate, or abusive. It's not.

Evidence: The reason that there isn't much of a relationship is because Mr. Aarons is not home much. He leaves early for work and returns home late. He doesn't make a lot of money and must work long hours far from home to support his five children. That means he doesn't have a lot of time or energy to spend with Jesse. Consequently, Jesse longs for any time he can spend with his father. He wants more than anything to make his dad feel proud of him, which he thinks in the following passage of the novel:  

Maybe Dad would be so proud he'd forget all about how tired he was from the long drive back and forth to Washington and the digging and hauling all day. He would get right down on the floor and wrestle, the way they used to. Old Dad would be surprised at how strong he'd gotten in the last couple of years.

There is a small problem with the relationship that goes beyond not spending enough time together. The "problem" is that Jesse loves to draw and do art. He is not interested in football or driving trucks like other boys his age. Mr. Aarons isn't supportive of Jesse's talent. He doesn't see how it is a useful skill; therefore, Jesse is scared to show his father his real talents and interests.  

When he was in first grade, he had told his dad that he wanted to be an artist when he grew up. He'd thought his dad would be pleased. He wasn't. "What are they teaching in that damn school?" he had asked. "Bunch of old ladies turning my only son into some kind of a..." He had stopped on the word, but Jess had gotten the message. It was one you didn't forget, even after four years.

Explanation: The two already don't spend enough time together, but the relationship is made tougher by Jesse having to hide parts of his true self.