Who is Father from Hocus Pocus and what is their importance?

Eugene's father remains nameless throughout the book, referred to only by his role as Father rather than a name. This both elevates Father's status in the narrative and reduces his character in Eugene's eyes, as well. The elevation occurs because calling him Father makes Eugene's biological dad seem like he's omnipotent, that he has powers greater than mere mortals. Likewise, such a vaunted view of his father makes Eugene feel distanced and cold emotionally from his dad, because who can relate to a God in human form, as Eugene blindly does prior to seeing his father truly as he is for the first time at the science fair event. When Father is caught cheating and Eugene realizes how deeply his father has manipulated him, Eugene's unrealistic view of Father abruptly changes from saint to fallen angel.

Father will have a profound effect on Eugene's life. Father not only taints Eugene with cynical observations about the world that are not balanced with hopeful ones, but he also cheats at the science fair, unfairly pressuring Eugene into becoming his unwilling accomplice. This colors Eugene's world view and makes him skeptical of all authority figures thereafter. Father dies with Mother in a tragic death near Niagara Falls.