I don't really go back and forth much. Sometimes I feel a little pain in my heart when I think about what the family (including him, but mostly the other kids) are going through, but for me it doesn't change the fact that I find his behavior to be incredibly unbecoming and irresponsible when you consider his other children. I guarantee you they'll be dealing with the fallout of his behavior for years, if not decades, to come, compounding the fact their big sister just up and left them. The man reeks of highly vindictive possessiveness coupled with very much enjoying being the center of attention.
And can I just say I find it so incredibly unsettling to constantly see Vickers refer to Ralph as The Gunt even in private correspondence (that eventually gets leaked). By his own admission he was even making gunt jokes TO HIS DAUGHTER over dinner while they were all at the hotel together. His daughter is a fucking nut job, and it might have absolutely nothing to do with her upbringing. Bad apples constantly spring from relatively good trees. But man, there is something about Vickers that makes my nose rankle.