John Irving's novel A Prayer For Owen Meany tells the story of John and Owen, best friends who grow up together in Gravesend, New Hampshire. Owen is not your average boy; he is very small and pale with wide bulging eyes, but despite his size and appearance, he has a strong personality and is often bossy and assertive. Why did John Irving make Owen so peculiar? What is the significance of Owen's size, voice, etc.? Be sure to include textual evidence!
-Lindsay, Virginia, and Emily
Literature is formed via the most unlikely Heros. Similarly, Jane Austen uses Catherine, a plain boyish girl, to fill her heroine position, while John Irving utilizes Owen Meany as his hero. Owen is a very peculiar child. His, "vocal chords had not fully developed," leaving him with a shrill childlike voice dispite his age. John Irving sought the need to emphasize Owen's shrill voice, by displaying his speech throughout the novel in all capital letters for a greater effect on the reader with his voice. In addition to his voice, his size was, "so tiny," that his classmates just wanted to, "pick him up.". For Those two
ReplyDeletereasons, owen will forever be a child. But his thoughts and beliefs, even as a child, were far more advanced than any child in Gravesend, and indeed his thoughts were much more, "religious." His outer appearance and internal thoughts seem to clash, but towards the end of the novel it comes together. Owen knows he must sacrifice himself for the well being of Vietnamese children. He tells the children to stay calm in Vietnamese when an estranged family member of a soldier killed in the war throws a grenade into the storage room, because Owen's vice is so high and childlike the children trust him. Owen is killed by the grenade, but he controlled the atmosphere of the storage closet before the grenade detonated. He remained calm and assertive, and this transferred somewhat into the children. Owen finally realizes, "WHY [HIS] VOICE NEVER CHANGES," he was meant to instruct the children in his voice so they would feel a bond with him, because he gave his life for them.
Despite Owen’s small stature and undeveloped voice, he has the presence larger than anyone in the novel. The narrator of the story and Owen’s closest friend, John notes things that, looking back on, he finds very surprising of a young child such as Owen calling himself an instrument of God. John Irving’s intention in making Owen’s size so small, appearance so unorthodox, and voice so quirky is to make Owen stand out. He did not just want a typical manly, bold, loud character who just overpowers everyone when he walks in a room. He did not want a character who was able to draw attention by his huge stature, rather he wanted a memorable character who stood out because of his attitude, sincerity, and thoughtfulness. Owen stands out to everyone much more because of his incredible presence, yet meek physical presence. The irony essentially allows him to stand out more. For example, in Sunday School, the children would pass Owen around in the air “just to hear his voice.” First of all, if it weren’t for his size they would not be able to hold him in the air, and second of all, his voice obviously stood out even to younger children because they wanted to hear it. Another example of when Owen’s ironic character helps him stand out is in basic training for the war. He is not able to jump the wall at training in order to get a number one ranking. However, he “is the best academically; and has the highest marks in leadership.” This allows him to receive a number-two ranking, and makes him stand out as this unique character who had everything going for him except his height. Nonetheless, Owen still finds a way to sacrifice himself for others in the end.
ReplyDelete“Big things come in small packages.” This cliché quote is one that truly depicts the presence of Owen Meany in John Irving’s novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany. Although he is remember as being “a boy with a wrecked voice,” and “the smallest person [you] ever knew,” it is not his physical stature that imprints one’s mind, but his mere presence. A heroine is not always uncovered at first; rather, many are painted in a picture highlighted by one’s character. A leader of his packs, “he was dear” to those around him, and looked up ton by those in his company. During the time of war, he keeps a strong head on his shoulder’s by accepting the fact that although “THERE”S SO MUCH [HE] KNOW[S],” he “DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING,” which is a vital trait to possess when leading others. This seemingly unlikely hero makes a choice at a pivotal moment in his life. His choice is to make the ultimate sacrifice…to give his life for others. Not only is he a man of unselfish ways in the most important of moments, but also he is a man that influences others to follow in his light. To some, Owen Meany “is the reason [they] believe in God,” can be seen as the ultimate plan of life, to follow down the righteous plan of the Christian religion.
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes, “You can’t judge a book by its cover”. This quote reflects the lovable character Owen Meany in John Irvings “A prayer for Owen Meany”. Owen is a peculiar boy with a “falsetic” and “wrecked voice” that his best friend thought was “from another planet “ (5). Owen is also very thin and even as an adult he doesn’t reach five feet tall. This meek appearance, however, is not a reflection of his personality. As one readson they find that Owen is actually quite assertive and even bossy around his friends who were even sometimes scared of him, “WHAT WERE YOU WATING FOR? BUBBLES? DO YOU THINK I’M A FISH? WASN’T ANYONE GOING TO TRY TO FIND ME?” (21). Overall, it is apparent you are not able to judge Owen’s character by his looks.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I feel that Irving uses Owen peculiar features to further the message that “things are not always what they seem” meaning good things can come from extremely odd situations. Owen was a true instrument in God and is the reason that his friend believes in God. Owen’s peculiarities made him a remarkable a memorable person of which no one that knew him will forget.
In John Irving's novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany", Owen Meany is physically stunted by the constant exposure to dust at his father's granite quarry but he has anything but a small character. Owen was literally tossed around by the children in Sunday school class and even though he "scowled at the ceiling"(5) while he was being tossed, he never said a word to the teacher. The fact that Owen does not tell on the children shows that he has a greater power inside of his little body than any of the children could imagine. John Irving claims that it is because of Owen that he is such a strong religious follower. Owen has the power of the religion working in him and he is able to make a very large impact on the John Irving. Not only did Owen change his friend but he has the power to change to Nativity Scene in the Christmas pageant at church. This change helps to support Owen as a very powerful boy and keep him standing tall. Owen is different than all the other boys in the novel and this helps him to stand out more than he already does.
ReplyDeleteJohn Irving illustrates the character of Owen Meany in a very interesting way. The fact that he is very different than anyone else in the novel physically stands him apart and shows his unique personality and abilities such as "His hand was too small to get a good grip...his voice was so original in its expression of complaint that he managed to make whining lovable"(5). He was unexpected and thats what makes his situation fascinating. No one expected someone as small and peculiar to have such a significant impact on people's lives. The novel begins with John saying, "I AM DOOMED to remember a boy with a wrecked voice- not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am Christian because of Owen Meany"(1). Owen was so very different from any of the other boys, and this is what made him remarkable, and he was a true instrument of God.
ReplyDeleteAuthors often create a plethora of characters in a novel to create contrasts and foils to each character within. While it does have plenty of characters to contrast on another, John Irving takes this a step further with his novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany," in which Irving creates a character who is able to contrast himself. The novel revolves around an interesting character named Owen Meany, who is small in size but huge in personality. While he does have a few physical deformities, Owen is able to compensate for those features by his shear persona. Owen believes himself to "God's instrument" which we later learn is partially due to the fact that his conception, according to his parents, was "like the Christ Child," of immaculate conception. For this reason, Owen and his parents are looked down upon by the Roman Catholic church, creating one of Owen's first personal conflicts to overcome, long before Irving's novel begins. As far as Owen's voice goes, despite the fact that many, including other characters in the novel, like John's "grandmother [who] was so upset by Owen's voice," his voice has a profound effect on those he touches. It is difficult to erase his words, even out of the reader's memory, which truly shows he is truly UNFORGETTABLE.
ReplyDeleteWhile Owen often seems demanding of the characters around him in the novel, his contrasting miniature size and gigantic character end up demanding the reader's attention, reeling the reader in and even making the reader feel guilty for putting the book down. Owen is quite an assertive little guy and knows how to get his way.
It's said that the best things come in small packages, or at least the the biggest suprises are in small packages. For Owen Meany there is no truer description. His small stature in no way diminishes his influence over the people in his life. When Owen wins the role of Christ in the Christmas, John mentions, "As the Christ Child and as the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come , he had established himself as a prophet- disquietingly it was our future he seemed to know something about." (201) Owen's omnipotence about the future indeed plays a significant role, because he not only foresees his own death and keeps it from his friends, but his confidence in the future is what drives John to search for his father as well as avoiding the draft by cutting off his finger. The other important factor that Owen presents is the fact that Owen inspires John's religious conversion. Granted John had always been a church-goer but he had never truly believed until after Owen's death. John mentions that in his present day prayers when he says "He is risen" he was thinking of Owen Meany (282) John's thoughts of Owen instead of Christ during the affirmation, is a testament to the fact that Owen's religious devotion affected John. For all the pecularities of Owen Meany, he without a doubt left his mark on the people around him, especially John.
ReplyDeleteJessica I love the way you incorporated other pieces of literature into your response. Also I liked the reason for his voice, very original!
ReplyDeleteBrooks very nice presentation of irony. Well developed, taking it from the beginning of the novel to the end. Nice Job.
Ciara I enjoyed your beginning quote, though cliche it seems the best way to describe Owen’s character. I also enjoyed the recurring theme of heroes. Possibly more development on the question next time.
Allison, like Ciara, the quote that you used helped to develop your points further. I completely agree that the internal and external traits of Owen clash at points in the novel. Nice job answering the entire question.
Haley, nice example at the Sunday school, showing his maturity against the still naive children. Interesting that while he may look like a child even fully developed, Owen was the first to behave like an adult.
Sarah I liked your quotes that you chose, but maybe more explanation on them next time. I like your idea that what made him interesting during the novel was his unforeseen actions, I agree.
Dan awesome job! I was entertained by the character foil of Owen Meany. Also his voice and words that are unforgettable, could not be interpreted a more honest way. Very clever putting your words in all caps.
Jessie very nice quote and great job explaining its meaning. Maybe a little more about his physical instead of religious traits. Very nice job though!
As a young man of small physical stature, Owen "The Voice" Meany does not allow his size to overshadow an ounce of his oversized personality. With a "wrecked" voice "not entirely of this world", Owen's presence in a room is immediately striking to everyone around him. His huge presence is directly contrasted by his resemblance to "a little doll". He is certainly not of the average size for his age, nor does he present himself as such a young boy. Owen is forthright and opinionated, and is constantly criticizing everything in society and making positive changes. His persistence in creating change allows Owen to have a much more powerful effect on the people surrounding him. His small stature only makes it more impressive that he is able to have such a profound effect on others. Owen is also able to maintain control of all of the situations that he is presented with. Even when others believe they have control over Owen, he always comes out of the situation firmly in control. Owen was able to influence the life of every member of the community, from his classmates at the Gravesend Academy to his best friend John. He probably had the most profound effect on John, by influencing his belief in Christ. Owen was able to have a huge effect on whatever people happened to cross his path. Irving made Owen such a peculiar character with his voice and body that contrast his undeniable presence in order to emphasize his importance in John's life.
ReplyDeleteIrving's intimate description and detail of Owen Meany seem to first bring about the image of a tragic and unfortunate soul. Physically, Owen is small, very much underweight and shorter for any boy his age. He seemed to have "been born without realistic joints" (2). John describes him as "the color of a gravestone" (2). Owen's skin was "translucent at time- especially at his temples, where his blue viens showed through his skin", giving him an alien- like appearance. Since Owen is constantly referred to as a Christ-like figure, John, along with other characters, must look past his abnormal structure to hear the messages and lessons he teaches and speaks of everyday. The disciples of Christ had to overlook the fact that they could face severe punishment for mere contact with Jesus, just as John would have to look past any challenges he would face, like his mother's death. Besides the religious connections made with Owen, he has a booming and quite suprising personality. Owen also cares deeply for John like a brother, which is the same for John towards Owen. Irving's creation of an awkward and peculiar character also pulls in the attention of his audience, and really tries to engrave Owen's character in your mind. As the United Press International stated, "Owen Meany, drawn in bold strokes, burns in the mind's eye- vivid, alive, beloved- long after the turning of the final page".
ReplyDeleteOwen’s unique physical size is cleverly uses by Irving to stress the importance of this character. Similar to Austen’s use of Catherine, Irving emphasizes the flaws in Owen to show his true personality and the greatness to come. Owen was “the smallest person” John “ever knew”(1). While this may seem like a negative trait, it in fact shows the significance of Owen; his presence never leaves one’s mind. It is his physical abnormalities that make him the fascination oh all of his peers. He was the girl’s “little doll”(3). Owen’s physical stature is not only stressing the importance of Owen, but it is also showing how one cannot “judge a book by its cover”. Owen may seem like a small runt of a kid, but it is under this assumption that one decides Owen is never going to become anything. However it is this idea that stresses Irving’s point. No one could have predicted, “that Owen was a Hero”(6). Irving strategically used Owen’s physical size to convey his importance in the overall novel.
ReplyDeleteIn John Irving's novel, "A Prayer For Owen Meany", Owen is a small, yet assertive. We find that Owen often influences those that are much larger than he. In the case of Owen, it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. Irving's intentions of making a character as outwardly small as Owen was to highlight the impact that Owen's character had on the novel. Owen is not remembered as "a boy with a wrecked voice" or even "because he was the smallest person I ever knew", but "because he is the reason I believe in God. I am a Christian because of Owen Meany." Because of Owen's small size and meak voice, people don't expect him to leave such a large impact on their lives, however his "short man syndrome" personality makes up for what he lacks in size and appearance.
ReplyDelete@ Jessica- Good point about Owen’s voice earning the trust of the children
ReplyDelete@ Brooks- Liked “the irony essentially allows him to stand out more.” Good job!
@ Ciara- Liked the unlikely hero theme throughout
@ Allison- Good choice of effective quotes
@ Haley- Liked the Sunday school reference to the “greater power” Owen possesses
@ Sarah- Liked “He was unsuspected and that’s what makes his situation fascinating.” Nice job!
@ Dan- Wow! Great job! Liked how you said he demanded the reader’s attention, not just the characters in the book
@ Jessie- Liked “his confidence in the future” showing his strong faith in God and his dreams as his ultimate fate
@ Margaret- Liked the “persistence in creating change” and remaining in control of situations
@ Christiana- Great tying in the disciples and Christ to John and Owen and bringing in a quote from outside the book! Great job!
@ Ray- Liked “no one could have predicted that Owen was a hero” and that his peers listened to him because they were so fascinated with him
@ Alex- A little more depth into your response would have been nice, but still a good job!