Within an extended patriarchal family, who would assume control of the family at the death of the father?

• A. The mother
• B. The eldest son
• C. The eldest daughter
• D. The paternal uncle

Answer: (B)

In a patriarchal family, authority and leadership are passed through the male line. When the father dies, the responsibility for directing the family typically goes to the eldest son, who becomes the new head or patriarch and takes over the management of property, decisions, and family affairs. The mother usually does not assume this role in such a system, and the eldest daughter would not unless cultural rules explicitly allow female succession. The paternal uncle would only step in if there were no eligible male heirs to carry on the male line, which isn’t the standard arrangement in a typical patriarchal setup.