Answer: The father plays the role of the narrator's mentor and role model. When he leaves his family to begin a journey in a canoe, the narrator questions his reasons, which is a manifestation of his strong bond with him, one that he does not have with the rest of his family.
Explanation: The role that the narrator's father represents is the most important in the story. When he decides to navigate away on a canoe to reflect and discover the meaning of life, the narrator is severely affected and questions his departure. Unlike the rest of the family, the father is the one that the narrator talks about the most. Therefore, the reader can assume that he has a stronger bond with him and sees him as a role model.
