In John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, Owen and John undoubtedly serve as foils to each other. However, It is difficult to determine who is more of a "big brother" to the other. Using textual evidence from the book, discuss whether or not John needs Owen more in the story or vice versa; or are they equal foils to each other? Try to feed off of other students comments, make this sort of like our in-class debate by anticipating and refuting opposing arguments.-Grant D, Patricia F, & Rachel C
Owen definitely is more of a “big brother” to Johnny instead of vice versa in John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” From their childhood, Owen was always there to help and guide Johnny with aspects of everyday life. For example, Owen “never stop[ed] helping Johnny with his homework” from elementary school all the way to college (24). Even though this seems insignificant for Owen only helping Johnny with his homework, it still portrays the image of a big brother who helps their younger siblings with things they have already gone through to offer guidance to their younger siblings. However, this simply example also equates to the more important influence Owen had on his morals and religion as a whole. In fact, Johnny states himself that “I am a Christian because of Owen Meany” (1). During their childhoods, Owen always had better morals than Johnny, or at least more guidance to do what was right since he was an instrument of God. Owen tried to instill these morals in Johnny so he could be an overall better person which would later allow him to have eternal life in heaven. Just as big brothers try to give their younger siblings with advice from their previous experiences, so does Owen by giving advice to Johnny for developing better morals. Some would argue that Johnny serves more as big brother to Owen towards the end of the novel. However, Johnny would never had ever been able to act as a big brother to Owen if Owen had not “rescued” him from his previous state of being not religious who went through life lackadaisically (60). Even though Johnny tried to save Owen from going to active duty by speaking with his professor, Johnny would never had been able to do this if Owen had never spoke out about his opposition to the war and taught Johnny the morals of war earlier. Basically, Johnny was only able to assume the big brother position to Owen because Owen first served as the big brother to Johnny. Even though either Owen or Johnny can be argued to be the big brother of the other, Owen serves as a larger big brother image because of his strong influence and guidance on Johnny in their early childhoods which ultimately lead to Johnny being able to assume the big brother position.
ReplyDeleteBoth Owen and John serve act as big brothers to each other; however, Owen moreso has this role, since he knows more, both academically and spiritually, and acts as a mentor to John from childhood. The reason John becomes who he is in the present time of the novel is because of Owen. Owen helps him with schoolwork and religion, and is ultimately the reason that John believes in God. John acknowledges that "...Owen gave [him] more thab he ever took from [him] - even when you consider that he took [John's] mother" (93), showing how Owen has so much of an impact on John that he can even take a loved one from John and still be a source of happiness for John. When Owen cuts off John's finger to prevent him from being drafted, his words at that moment, "I LOVE YOU...NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU - TRUST ME" (509), show how much he cares for John and is willing to protect him. Even after Owen dies, he still protects and helps John, when he prevents John from falling down the cellar stairs and leads him to the revelation of his biological father. John protected Owen in a more present-time sense, since he befriended and accepted Owen despite his strange appearance and beliefs and trying to prevent him from going to Vietnam. But Owen was the one who protected John in the long-run and grand scheme of things. He knew how to enact his destiny and when to reveal everything to John. Owen was the leader and planner between the two of them, whereas John was the faithful helper to Owen's plans.
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to side with Shane on this one. Although John may have “befriended and accepted Owen despite his appearance” Owen still plays the role as the big brother throughout the story. Owen is a guide to John throughout his life, making him a big brother. When John questions something, Owen is there with the answer. As John is in search for his father, Owen then states, “She was a good mother. If she thought the guy could be a father to you, you’d already know him.” (275). Owen is the practical one, who thinks everything through before acting, and many older siblings do that. Older siblings are protective, and this is why they do so. Owen not only leads John towards God, he leads John down the path of success. Owen is the leader in this relationship, thus making him the big brother. Owen again thinks everything through as they talk about going to Nova Scotia. “The pickup could certainly carry all the camping gear we’d ever need” (482). With Owen leading John through life, he becomes the big brother.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Shane; there are many examples that show the brotherly bond between Owen and John, with Owen being the big brother. A brother's duty is to care for the younger, and Owen did just that, especially when he cut off John's finger preventing him from being drafted due to a handicap, "I LOVE YOU...NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU - TRUST ME" (509). Owen showed John the meaning of faith and religion. John "is a Christian because of Owen Meany" (1). John is constantly receiving help from Owen. Whether it was homework, religion, or guidance, Owen was there. He guided John to the cabinet with the baseball and the truth as to who his father was. Even in death Owen would help him. Owen left an imprint on John’s life. This could also be why the book is narrated by John.
ReplyDeleteMost of the blogs so far have commented on who had the biggest impact on the other. In that context, Owen is the winner. However, I believe that John is more of the "big brother" figure. Owen made John who he is. He gave him a belief in God and more importantly, in humanity. What is the role of a bog brother? to protect; to shield from reality. John protected Owen more than Owen protected John. For instance, John was hesitant to introduce Owen to his cousins because, "it was frightening to imagine what games my cousins might devise to play with Owen Meany." (60). later on in life, John tries to keep Owen out of Vietnam. Owen wants to go because he believes it's the only way to fufill God's plan for him. John sabotages Owen's efforts with his ROTC officers, telling him that Owen isn't "emotionally stable" enough to go to war. John needs Owen more, but he is more of a big brother to Owen.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shane and Maura Owen is more of a big brother figure to John because he is always there to care for John and guide him. John is greatly influenced by Owen and in the first sentence of the book he says, " I am a christian because of Owen Meany". (P.1) on page 86 John says that he believes in the "special purpose" of things. and that he is now a firm believer in "God" but without Owen Meany that would have never happened. Also throughout the book Owen Leads by example and does what he believes is right and by doing so it shows John how to act and his makes Owen a Big brother figure because John looks up to him. It is ironic how small and feeble Owen is but how someone bigger than him can look up to him because of his presence.John needs Owen, he is almost dependent on him and like Maura said, when Owen cuts off John's finger to prevent him from going to Vietnam it truly shows how Owen yearns to look after John. John's big Brother is Owen Meany.
ReplyDeleteAs I read through previous comments, I noticed that a majority of the replies agreed that Owen Meany was a big brother figure to John, but I'm not sure if I agree with this opinion. I do believe that Owen had a profound effect on John as a person, but it was John who was the more mature, educated, and protective figure in their relationship. In my opinion, this makes all the difference in deciding who is a real big brother. A big brother should be someone who tries to steer the other in the right direction and keeps him out of trouble, which John does quite often. In one particular instance, John acts the big brother when he sees Owen "holding his father;s nearly full glass of champagne" and he "advised him not to drink (it)" (121). This may seem like an insignificant action, but it shows how John is always looking out for Owen's best interest, even in the small things.
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ReplyDeleteOwen and John relationship is definitely a type of "brotherhood." Therefore, the two are dependent on each other. To what extent do you think they are dependent on each other? how do you think the actions of one character changed the other's view point on life? do you believe the character shaped Irving's own life?
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I believe that John and Owen are completely dependent upon each other, but for very different reasons. John is dependent on Owen, as many have said in previous posts, for protection and for a true loving brother. To begin, Owen always helps John with his homework, he gives John his baseball cards after the baseball accident which were his “most prized possessions-indeed, his only prized possessions…” (81), and he even refuses to go to Harvard or Yale so that he can stay with John. Furthermore, John says that “Owen gave me more than he ever took from [him]-even when you consider that he took [his] mother” (91), and Owen additionally “kept [him] out of Vietnam-a trick that only Owen could have managed” (91). While John’s need of Owen is great, Owen needs John just as badly. John gives Owen, a small and socially awkward child with very strange parents, a chance at a normal life and a friend. Owen is constantly over at John’s grandmother’s house as his “parents are rather strange about children” (73). Also, his dependence on John is evident when he asks him, “‘WELL, IF YOU ASKED ME TO COME WITH YOU AND YOUR MOTHER TO SAWYER DEPOT, I PROBABLY WOULD COME-YOU KNOW’” (63). Owen is desperate for an escape from the usual boring life of his home, and John is the answer to his problem. John gave Owen Meany a childhood.
ReplyDeleteJeff uses the phraseology "completely dependent upon each other," and I must agree that John and Owen are indeed reliant on each other throughout the novel. They are character foils who are “designed” by Irving, but ironically, they become intertwined as the work progresses. Even though both characters appear to be relatively unchanged at the novel’s closure, the reader can feel the impact that each has upon the other. From start to finish, John and Owen seemingly switch places with each moderating the other as they mature. This is evident especially through moments such as the scene mentioned by Josh, “John acts the big brother when he sees Owen ‘holding his father’s nearly full glass of champagne’ and he ‘advised him not to drink [it]’ (121). This may seem like an insignificant action, but it shows how John is always looking out for Owen's best interest, even in the small things.” As Owen matures, he transforms into a riskier, dare devil figure, but John is there to balance this emerging character trait just as Owen offered stability (maturity factor) in John’s life from an early age. Interestingly enough, I believe that Owen Meany shaped Irving’s life as influentially as he did John’s. Irving created Owen Meany, but in the end, Owen Meany ended up creating himself and revealing his Christ-like figure to Irving with each page of writing, “I am God’s instrument” (87).
ReplyDeleteShane-brilliant and extensive analysis, good tie in to the recurring instrument of God theme, and noting the switch of big brother roles later, Kelly- nice new perspective and use of examples of how John looks after Owen, Natalie- good example of how Owen is willing to do anything to help John even if it hurts him, Jeff- your abundant textual evidence does a wonderful job backing your statement that John gives Owen a childhood, Brennan- a good discerning study of how the characters foil one another , Clay- outstanding job linking Owen to a guide, Josh -a clear and concise argument for John
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Shane and many others that Owen is more of a brother to John than John is to Owen. Owen's sense that he is "God's instrument" (87) reflects how he treats John as well as others. Owen feels empowerment over John and feels he can protect him, which John almost relies on him to because John believes, "It is Owen who made me a believer" (2). Owen can be seen as a Christ figure in the novel and because of his true faith people or the other children became Christians, or more religious. Also, when John is supposed to be going off to the Vietnam War , but Owen didnt want John to go, so they decided to force John to have an injury. Owen began to cut one of John's fingers off, while doing so Owen believed that "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO-IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT" (508). Owen gives advice to John all the time, which makes him more like a brother figure because he is someone John can always look to for help or advice. John looks up to Owen, which makes Owen almost act like the caretaker of John.
ReplyDeleteAs many people have commented on the first page of the story where John states that he is a Christian because of Owen, I believe there are numerous instances where Owen is the “big brother” figure to John. For example on page 21 When own was pretending to drown, he was trying to see if John would have done anything, but seeing that he didn’t, he verbally scolded him as an elder would. Throughout the book Owen is bringing John to certain realizations in life that he would have otherwise neglected to notice. “I cant believe that your upbringing and your education have been wasted on you…do you call that morality? Do you call the responsible?” In this well spoken paragraph, Owen becomes not only a brother figure, but a mentor, trying to lead John to the right path with his life and decisions. I believe that Owen really taught John about becoming accountable, although Owen had his own issues and demons to fight, he was straight minded enough to show others how to not be such “nare-do-wellers”
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