Iron John

Bly explicates the sense of "father hunger" experienced by many men in contemporary society, where there is often a perceived lack of sufficient fatherly influence or presence. Bly delves into the complexities of sonhood and the roles of the father, highlighting how modern societal and industrial shifts have led to a disconnection between fathers and sons. This disconnection affects personal relationships and impacts men's internal understanding and development of their masculine identity.

Bly discusses the consequences of "too little father" (86), where sons experience a void that influences their perception of themselves and their roles in society. He contrasts traditional cultures, where sons benefit from the guidance of multiple male figures, with contemporary settings, where such mentorship is scarce. The absence of the father or inadequate father-son interaction leads to a hunger for male guidance and approval, often projected onto other male figures or mentors, whom sons might seek to fill this gap.

The chapter further examines the "distrust of older men" (88) phenomenon, fueled by negative societal portrayals of fathers and male authority figures, exacerbating the gap between generations of men. Bly suggests that the lack of meaningful interaction with fathers leaves sons only with their temperament, devoid of the deeper teachings and wisdom that traditional father-son relationships are said to have provided.