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Self-Discovery In A Prayer For Owen Meany

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In the novel A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving’s characters have many quests and journeys. These are both interpersonal and journeys of self-discovery. Through John’s search for faith, for his identity and America’s collective search for honesty and truth, Irving solidifies Thomas Hardy’s message that “Nothing bears out in practice what it promises incipiently.” While one character grows to fulfill his God given destiny, others float along and see where the road takes them. Owen Meany has a seemingly direct and purposeful path in life, while John struggles with finding identity and faith. John firmly believes that there is a God, but that does not mean he has faith figured out. Throughout the story he is never overtly pious, and at …show more content…

Specifically, he teaches English to High School girls. He goes on to college, and then graduate school, all to make it possible for him to teach English. As he grows and learns as an adult, he actually develops a great appreciation for Tess of the D’Urbervilles, and he deeply wants his students to gain the same understanding of it that he has. He goes full circle in that at his age, rereading the first phase of Tess would be the last thing he would want to do, yet that is exactly what he assigns to his Grade 12 English Class. Empty promises from president after president lead Americans to lose faith in politics. In A Prayer for Owen Meany, Americas search for truth and honesty in politics plays out during both the Kennedy and Reagan administrations. Owen’s search for honesty in politics prompts him to reform his own attitude. Upon hearing of JFK’s election, he writes in his journal,
NO MORE SARCASM MASTER…NO MORE CYNICAL, NEGATIVE, SMART-ASS, ADOLESCENT BULLSHIT! THERE IS A WAY TO BE OF SERVICE TO ONE’S COUNTRY WITHOUT BEING A FOOL; THERE IS A WAY TO BE OF USE WITHOUT BEING USED...” He thought that Kennedy was religious and—incredibly—he didn’t mind that Kennedy was a Catholic. “I BELIEVE HE’S A KIND OF SAVIOR” (Irving

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The Fate and Destiny of one’s life is determined by the actions that are taken and the paths which are chosen. John Winslow Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany, examines and deepens the meaning behind the Fate and Destiny of someone to shed light on what life’s true meaning is. In this story, John Wheelwright is a member of the hierarchy and wealthy of Gravesend and he finds true friendship in the most unlikely place; John meets the unsophisticated, yet assertive Owen Meany who comes from an unfortunate family. John’s mother, Tabby, interacts with Owen more so than Owen’s actual mother does and when the Angel of Death finally comes for Tabby, the deed to end her life is bestowed upon Owen because he had interrupted the Angel.

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In the book A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, my favorite character is Owen Meany. I admire the way he cares about his friends and is willing to do anything for them. He is concerned about John coming to Vietnam. To avoid this, Owen cuts off John’s finger so he cannot go into the war. This would be difficult, but he loves John and wants to protect him.

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He believed in doing the right thing and he was willing to fight for it. During the witch-hunts that affected us all, John tried with every ounce of strength he had to stop the court from going along with Abigail’s manipulations and lies, and in the process confessed to the court the truth of his lechery to make it known that Abigail was just pretending. He knew that his reputation would be ruined, but he knew that it had to be done to save the innocent people accused of trafficking with the devil. I don’t know how many other people would do the same and be able to risk their own reputations knowing that they would no longer be looked at as a respectable person. Some people doubt whether or not John is in heaven.

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