Misconceptions In John Irving's A Prayer For Owen Meany

In the novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving, Owen Meany’s belief of predestination makes a significant impact on John Wheelwright’s emotional stability as an adult. John Wheelwright is unhealthily bitter and angry about his past experiences because he clings to a past that never lets him choose. This bitterness fuels his repugnance towards the

John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany has a curious ending. The narrator, John Wheelwright, acts almost like a tour guide, taking the audience through a voyage of his life and his faith – “And if you look to the left, you’ll see my mom getting hit by a fatal baseball,” John almost seems to say – through the similarly curious Owen Meany, the reason that John is a Christian. For much of the text, A Prayer for Owen Meany seems nearly aimless, simply describing, often in detail of perplexing thoroughness, random childhood memories intercut with his current life with a slightly common yet undefined thread tying them all together. But the ending illuminates each of the seemingly meaningless plot threads, bringing order to the chaos of John’s cluttered memory. The conclusion of A Prayer for Owen Meany sheds lights on the nuances and intricacies of the novel, cementing some interpretations and opening doors to others, ensuring that it is a satisfying and, most importantly, a thought-provoking ending.

While at a movie theater, Dally is antagonizing and annoying several Soc girls. Johnny stands up to Dally, his hero, and states, “‘Leave her alone, Dally.’ ‘Huh?’ Dally was taken off guard. He stared at Johnny in disbelief. Johnny couldn't say ‘Boo’ to a goose. Johnny gulped and got a little pale, but he said, ‘You heard me. Leave her alone’” (24). It took all of Johnny’s bravery to stand up to his absolute idol. He was willing to stand up to a dangerous boy that could easily defeat him in a fight, to save others. Not only this, but when a church is burning down with children inside, Ponyboy states, ”Johnny wasn't behaving at all like his old self. ... he grinned at me. He wasn't scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes” (92). Johnny gives his own life for kids who have futures. He charges into the church at full speed when necessary. Johnny becomes brave in the middle of the

Johnny has a fear of Socs after getting jumped by them, which led him to kill Bob. He is regularly beaten by his father and emotionally abused by his mother. Ponyboy mentioned a quotation of Johnny   “ I had never been jumped, but I had seen Johnny after four Socs got hold of him, and it wasn’t pretty. Johnny was scared of his own shadow after that.” After Johnny killed Bob trying to protect Ponyboy from drowning he ran away with Ponyboy to an abandoned church in Windrixville. At the time he was afraid of anybody that he thought could hurt him. When the church went up in flames Johnny made the decision to run in with Ponyboy to save the children in the burning building. His gallant actions led to him being paralyzed, but he learned to overcome his fears of easily being frightened. Before that, he always used to think about killing himself because he was scared and hurt, but now knowing that he has something to live for he thought he was too young to die. He said this “you want to know something, Ponyboy? I’m scared stiff. I used to think about killing myself… ”, “ I don't want to die now. It ain’t long enough. Sixteen years ain’t long enough. I wouldn’t mind it so much if there wasn’t so much stuff I ain’t done yet --- and so many things I ain’t seen. It’s not fair. You know what? That time we were in Windrixville was the only time I’ve been away from our neighbourhood.” Thus, adversity can help to overcome the hardships and

In the end, Johnny has self-worth and this helps him get over his abandonment. In conclusion, Johnny’s life is fulfilled because he is able to fight for his country, and he has trusted

There are numerous themes and motifs present in the novel, but in the following section, only three primary themes will be stated this includes: Faith, Friendship, and Fate. One of the most recurring themes throughout the novel is Faith in God. From the opening lines of the novel “he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany” (Page 3), to the last sentence of the novel “O God-please give him back! I shall keep asking You.(Page 627)”. It is evident that faith has influenced this novel in every possible way. Owen is the character in whom this theme is clearly evident since he believes in the idea of there being a reason and explanation for everything. The second vital theme

Put simply, the miraculousness of Owen Meany catalyzes Johnny’s faith. Yet, Johnny’s faith did not spring forth the moment he met Owen; instead, Owen’s life, sprouting with miracles, gradually inspired Johnny to accept and pursue a life of faith. Therefore, his true faith was born out of the miracle of Owen. After the Christmas pageant in which Johnny starred as Joseph and Owen as baby Jesus, Johnny mentions that “that Sunday…contributed to my belief in—and my dislike of—the miracle” (231). Here, Johnny’s reference to “the miracle” alludes to Owen Meany. Nonetheless, the miracle in this instance contradicts the heartwarming, wondrous thoughts that may first float through one’s mind at the mention of a “miracle.” This miracle, Owen’s role as baby Jesus, astounds Johnny because of Owen’s ability to take charge and the changes and revisions that Owen brings about to an established faith tradition. In reaction, some despised Owen’s rude outburst to his parents and slight alterations to the traditional Christmas story, but some appreciated the modifications. Similarly, when Jesus preached new teachings and introduced revisions to ancient traditions, many attacked him and proclaimed his teachings heresies. Therefore, both Owen and Jesus experience hindrances in their lifestyles that differ from the norm; although, both manage to persevere in leading others in their missions as God’s instruments on the Earth. Another miracle occurred much later in Johnny’s life, after Owen’s death, when Dan Needham shuts Johnny into an unlit cellar as a joke. Unfortunately, Johnny loses his balance at the edge of the stairs, and he begins to fall backwards. Just before he topples over, Johnny feels a small hand guide his own hand to the light switch while pulling his body forward to retain his balance; meanwhile, a voice,

In his novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, author John Irving uses a final chapter of over 100 pages to provide appropriate closure of his intricate novel. In the final chapter, Irving provides answers to large questions the rest of the novel raises. Irving answers the question “who is John Wheelwright’s father?” while also providing further information and closure, as well as the answer to “why the practicing of ‘the shot’ was so important for Owen and John.” Finally, Irving is most thorough in carrying out the closure of a main theme in the novel, Owen’s prophecy of his own exact death, how it happens, when it happens, and most importantly with whom it happens.

Towards the end of the novel, Owen and John make plans for a rescue that they will have to make in the near future. Owen sees the event in a dream, and realises this will bring him to an end. Despite this, Owen uses Johnny as a major role in the rescue, and doesn’t show any concern for what will happen to John. According to Paul Eisenstein, Professor at Otterbein College, “both before and after its commission, its heroic dimension cannot ever be made fully transparent, cannot ever find safe haven in an intelligible, transcendent good.” Here Professor Eisenstein is talking of sacrifices and would be sacrifices in “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” He says this meaning that the risks either boy is taking cannot be justified or defended. They both put far too great of risk on one

The story begins with two boys John Wheelwright and Owen Meany, who grow up together in a small town in New Hampshire. One day during a little league baseball game Owen accidentally hits a foul ball that kills John’s mother, Tabby. Devastated and upset about his mother’s death, John holds a temporary grudge against her for not telling him who his father is. However,

     In the beginning of the novel, immediately there is a clear difference between Owen and Johnny. There is the field of academics; Owen is the head of his class while he helps John not to fail in his studies. There is Owen, very sure of his belief system and Johnny, very doubtful and unsure about his beliefs or feelings towards’ god.

In literature of significant standing, no act of violence is perpetrated without reason. For a story to be legitimate in the area of fine literature violence cannot be used in a wanton manner. In John Irving’s modern classic, A Prayer for Owen Meany the audience is faced with multiple scenes of strong violence but violence is never used without reason. All of the violent acts depicted in the novel are totally necessary for the characters and the plot to develop. This plot-required violence can be seen in the novel’s first chapter when Owen accidentally kills John’s mother and in the novel’s last chapter when John relates Owen’s grotesque, while heroic, death to the audience. The violence

Owen Meany was predestined to be a savior for the Vietnamese children and he had been preparing for this sacrifice his entire life. From the time he was born, Owen was always special. His parents admitted that he was unnatural when Mr. Meany exclaimed, “‘She just conceived a child—like the Christ Child.’” (Irving 545). This shows that Owen’s parents did not purposefully conceive him, but he was born for a greater purpose. Later on in Owen’s life, he has a vision of his grave and how he will die, which leads him to prepare for his death. He saw his death so vividly, he knew Johnny would be present, therefore he involves Johnny in his practice. Johnny explains, “We practiced the shot for three or four days in a row; of course, my part in this exercise was extremely limited, but I

A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving details the friendship between Owen Meany and John Wheelwright. Irving uses Biblical allusions to enhance character development and create foreshadowing; John and Owen work in tandem to mirror Joseph and Jesus.

John Irving, the author of A Prayer for Owen Meany, crafts a plot that utilizes religious imagery to cast depth and meaning into intricately developed details, leading to a novel that contains a rich development of many characters, one of which is Owen Meany. Owen's many sacrifices throughout his adolescent and adult life illustrates his loyalty and determination in his beliefs and actions, which in turn helps to convey the idea that the aspects of one's true persona is created by his or her effort solely. This trend is discovered on a multitude of settings, where it highlights Owen’s ability to cast himself in his own manner with each and every sacrifice he endured.