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Christ Figure In Roy Lessin's A Prayer For Owen Meany

1216 Words5 Pages

Roy Lessin, an American author, wrote “you’re here not by chance but by God’s choosing, to fulfill His special purpose in your life for this generation.” In many ways this quote ties to A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. As Johnny Wheelwright (the narrator) revisits his past with his best friend Owen Meany, he sees signs that a greater force was interfering in their lives, and some coincidences are too perfect to be natural. Owen himself realizes he is on Earth for a specific purpose, God’s purpose. Irving uses a litany of references, symbols, and images to distinguish Owen Meany as a Christ figure.
Owen Meany is the reason Johnny Wheelwright believes in God. Johnny says, “I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice—not because …show more content…

As Moses appears to the Israelites, they notice his face is radiant and his hair look as if it were white. Dan Needham, John’s stepfather, takes John into the old passageway. He plays a joke and shuts the door on John. John becomes hysterical and teeters on the steps leading downwards. Suddenly, he feels a small hand pull him forward and Owen’s unmistakable voice says, “DON’T BE AFRAID. NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.” (517). John emerges from the closet and Dan screams. After talking with Owen, John’s hair turns white. In the bible, the book of Isaiah, chapter 41, verse 10 says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you…” Owen resembles Christ when he too says to John not to be afraid. Owen is there for John just as he always has been, resembling Christ in the book of Matthew, chapter 28, verse 20, “I am with you always.”
Owen is Christ-like in many ways. Everyone wants to touch him like in the Gospel of Luke the crowd presses towards Jesus, wanting to touch him because of his healing abilities. Christ describes himself as the light of the world and Owen is constantly associated with light. His skin reflects and absorbs light, “as with a pearl, so that he appeared translucent at times.”

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