---

Fathers can have a tremendous impact on their daughter s development, wellbeing and on every aspect of their lives, just as a father´s absence can cause a devastating emotional and financial vacuum within a family. The father-daughter relationship is explored from a psychological standpoint, and paternal absences and their consequences are examined. These conclusions are subsequently discussed through referencing three famous relevant literary examples, chosen also to emphasize how often family and its dissolution are a recurring topic throughout American literature.

---

Martina Oberkalmsteiner was born in 1986 in Brixen, South Tyrol. She studied English / American Studies and French at the Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck to pursue a career in the teaching profession. Martina currently works in a technical museum and teaches at local schools.

---