Fictional Characters Take Their Kids to Work

Posted by Sarah Fox

[Still from Game of Thrones, HBO]

Today is Take Your Kids to Work Day. In honor of all the children running around cubicles or staring wistfully at the candy bars in the vending machines in break rooms, we imagined what it would be like for characters to take their kids to work. Trust us, it’s better than having them stare at another motivational poster.  

 

Oberon and Titania from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

If anyone’s kid is going to need therapy, it'll be the young boy Oberon and Titania adopted. Not only do his parents bicker over him, but he will inevitably witness their workplace hijinks. The boy will see people turning into strange animals or the wrong couples falling in love. At least he’ll learn how to effectively manage people. Oberon seems to have a good relationship with Puck. Except for all those times Puck messes up. But nobody is perfect.

 

Dr. Jekyll from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

There is no mention of Dr. Jekyll having a child (thank God), but we imagine it would not be a fun for his fictional child to visit his workplace. Not only would he have to see his father transform into a violent human being (talk about confusing and traumatizing), but he would be exposed to all of those chemicals. That really can’t be good for his health.

 

Dr. Watson from Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Rumor has it that Dr. Watson will have a daughter in the upcoming season of Sherlock. We think she would have a strange day visiting her father’s work place. She would inevitably encounter a crime, right? We’re crossing our fingers that it would be a burglary instead of a murder. As for her dad’s coworker, Sherlock Holmes, we’re sure she would find him bizarre, to say the least.

 

Captain Hook from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

While Captain Hook doesn’t have any children (that we’re aware of), we love to imagine what it would be like for him to take his child to work. Would the kid get to wear an eye patch or bandana? Would he or she be able to boss Mr. Smee around? While we aren’t sure of the details, we are sure this kid would have a great time. Who wouldn’t love to dodge crocodiles and visit mermaids? If nothing else, there would be plenty of other children around. Who knows? Maybe peace could be brokered with the Lost Boys.

 

Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

While Daenerys doesn’t have any human children, she has plenty of dragon children (she is the Mother of Dragons, after all). Unlike most working parents, bringing her kids to work is not an inconvenience, but they are crucial to her survival. Who wouldn’t their kids to char their enemies?

Sarah Fox

Sarah Fox

Sarah Fox is an editor, writer, writing consultant, and pop culture enthusiast. Besides regularly contributing to Quirk Books’ blog, she has published an edition of William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. She lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and Pembroke Welsh Corgi. You can find her online at www.thebookishfox.com.