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Tuesday, January 18, 2011
F Bell- Owen Meany- Due Jan. 25th
Owen possesses a strong religious faith. He believes his dreams are profecies of what is to come and what the purpose of his life is. Why does Owen think of himself as God's instrument? How does this affect John?
Owen clearly believes he is God's instrument. Throughout the novel Owen both causes death and stops death, both actions he believes were the actions of God himself working through his hands. Being such a small child of 10, Owen criticizes the catholic church for tampering with his ability, "to talk to God directly," something no other child of 10 years old would have thought. Although he had his intense faith at such a young age he knew that, "faith grows at it's own pace." Owen intense amount of faith allowed him to believe he was the instrument of God. As a virgin birth Owen is placed on Earth by God and dies by the will of God. He has faith in the, "will of the Lord," and that faith will make him a hero John always knew Owen was special. They grew up as best friends and parted as best friends. Other than a bond of friendship stretching from earth to heaven, John received one other thing from Owen and his work as God's instrument. John believes his best friend, "gave [him]more than he took from [him]," he credits Owen as, "the one who made [him] a believer." The thing Owen passed on to John was his faith in God, which made more of an impact on John than any one else in Gravesend.
Owen Meany has an absolute faith in God and seems to have possessed it from a very early age. When he is eleven, for example, he tells John that God knows who John's father is and will eventually identify him. Owen never doubts that there is a purpose to everything, and his faith in his own destiny as decreed by God never wavers. In contrast, John, as a child, has no particular religious beliefs or faith. He learns to believe in God mostly through his knowledge of Owen's seemingly miraculous life and death—particularly the fact that Owen possessed foreknowledge of the exact date and circumstances of his own death. However, John is never without his doubts. John’s belief does not have the shining intensity and certainty of Owen Meany's faith. John asks himself this question in connection with the performance of A Christmas Carol when Owen sees the gravestone marked with his own name and date of death. John quotes the question that Scrooge asks in Dickens's story: "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be or are they shadows of the things that May be, only?". From the evidence of the novel, the answer appears to be the former: these are things that will be, and nothing anyone can do can alter them. Certainly this is what Owen believes. He never feels that he has any choice, or free will. He tells John, "IT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO GO TO VIETNAM— IT'S WHERE I HAVE TO GO. IT'S WHERE I'M A HERO. I'VE GOT TO BE THERE." He is wrong about the place, of course, but everything else works out exactly as he foresaw it.
Owen Meany is truly God's instrument, just as Jesus Christ was, according to the Bible. Besides the fact that Owen and Jesus were both of immaculate conception, Owen also believes he was put on Earth to fulfill a destiny for the good of humankind, and accepts this fact, just as Jesus did. When writing in his diary, Owen writes: "LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM. NOW I KNOW FOUR THINGS. I KNOW THAT MY VOICE DOESN'T CHANGE-BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY. I KNOW THAT I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT. I KNOW WHEN I'M GOING TO DIE-AND I KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO DIE. I'M GOING TO BE A HERO! I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD." Owen really takes on this role as an instrument of God by his acceptance of his own destiny, or fate as he learns during his younger schooling years exactly when he will die. This premonition and vision from God reassures Owen and justifies for those around him that he really is an instrument of God. Another part of Owen's responsibilities to himself and God are to touch those around him. His best friend John Wheelwright is probably learns the most from Owen over the course of their friendship, from kids to young adults. John, who narrates the book, comes right out at the beginning of the book and says that "Owen is the reason I believe in God. I am a Christian because of Owen Meany." Throughout the book, Owen's actions as an instrument of God build up John's belief in God, culminating to the day Owen knows he will die, and die a hero. When John sees this come true and Owen actually does save a crowd of orphans, John's belief in God is solidified and John ends the book pleading with God: "O God- please give him back! I shall keep asking you." Owen most definitely created a lasting impression on John as not only is he praying to God at the end of the book, he is affirming the fact that he will continue to pray and believe, making Owen's somewhat short time on Earth worthwhile.
In John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany," a devout young man, and those around him, considers himself to be a religious icon; something of a tool in God's plan to "connect with" those on Earth. "MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT," he says. "GOD HAS TAKEN MY HANDS. I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT." Owen thinks that he is a religious figure because he is treated as such. Christlike expectations are set for him and he, understandably, feels the need to live up to them. Even as a child, Owen has interesting views on theology and religion and is unafraid to critique the work of other religious thinkers. For instance, as a young boy, he says that Pastor Merrill is too intellectual, and that "BELIEF IS NOT AN INTELLECTUAL MATTER." Owen even goes so far as to say that if Pastor Merrill is full of doubt, "HE'S IN THE WRONG BUSINESS." He prays on behalf of others by saying, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO," almost the exact words uttered by Christ as he hung from the cross. Owen even knows more about Scripture than most children his age, asking Barb Wiggin if she remembers when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus "GO TO JERUSALEM FOR PASSOVER AND JESUS GOES TO THE TEMPLE AND TALKS TO THE TEACHERS, AND JOSEPH AND MARY ARE WORRIED ABOUT HIM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND HIM - THEY'RE LOOKING ALL OVER FOR HIM - AND HE TELLS THEM , WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ME FOR, 'DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT I MUST BE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE?'" It can also be inferred that Owen considers himself immortal - when he visualizes his gravestone, he sees no date of death, only his name. It is because of these actions that he is treated papally. Owen is called The Voice and he himself even goes so far as to invite Randolph White for a "private audience." John is very deeply affected by his friend's divine nature, which he firsts notices during their childhood together. "I did not believe that there were 'chosen ones,' or that God 'appointed' anyone, or that God gave 'assignments.'" However, by adulthood, John acknowledges that the reason for his Christianity is solely Owen Meany.
Owen Meany does not doubt for one minute that he is a God's instrument. Owen takes care of John's mother and watches over her "every breathe" and though he admired her as more than his friend's mother, his constant watchful eye has him watching over her just as God is watching over him. Owen is very strong in his faith and he even changes the nativity scene during the Christmas pageant. This change takes a power so strong that only God or God's instrument could make it happen. Owen may be small in stature but his religious faith is huge. John Irving admits that because of Owen he is such a strong religious follower. To convert a person to a religion takes great power but to keep that person following the faith is enormous and takes great strength. Owen Meany is John's best friend and even after they are gone he is always with John, just as God is always with his followers.
"I AM AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD," the most resounding words of Owen Meany. Owen knew that God had plans for him from the beginning. Even from the time when he was lifted during Sunday school by the other students to when he played the Christ child as tween. His remarkably small statue was a sign to Owen that he was to bring goodness into the world from an unlikely package, just like the carpenter's son. In addition to this Owen felt that he was a shepherd of his flock. Reacting with the most important people in his life Owen tries to protect them from the dangers of life much like someone keeping vigil over the herd. This is the role that Owen played in John's role. While John is a self described "Joesph" he is protected by Owen when Owen removes John's finger so he is ineligible for the draft. In addition Owen also served to push John and his family as though he was a father to them all like God. It is no wonder that John felt such religious fervor after having the friendship of Owen Meany. In a few words, Owen filled a void that John had and inspired him to believe in the unseeable.
Owen Meany has a faith that is hard as stone and no one can take that from him. He truly believes that he is "GOD'S INSTRUMENT"(87). Throughout the novel he believes that he is the godly instrument of many significant events such as the death of John's mother. "GOD HAS TAKEN YOUR MOTHER. MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT. GOD HAS TAKEN MY HANDS. I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT"(87). He had the power to take her life mistakenly though. Also Owen Meany feels that he is a Christlike figure because this is how society eventually begins to treat him as. Based on his physical features, being small and different in every way, it was almost expected of him to be special, which perpetuates the ideas of him being the instrument of God.
It is apparent through John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany”, that religion is a key element. While Owen is God’s instrument in the novel, Owen also serves as the author’s inspiration. Owen, as discussed in the last blog, is a peculiar boy with a “wrecked” voice and “his hand[s] [were] too small to get a good grip”(4) on anything he held. Irving uses him as a Christ figure who not only causes death but also saves people from death. Just as Jesus was not perfect, Owen has many flaws including many physical “defects”, Owen didn’t look much like GOD’S INSTRUMENT in that fallen position” (337). Jesus was misunderstood and hated by many in the world but despite this hate, his light of truth shown as does Owen’s despite his deceiving appearance. As mentioned, Owen is not only the cause of death but he also takes his own life in order to save lives. No one is perfect and Owen does accidentally kill John’s mother during a game. But he is also the reason that someone, his best friend John, has faith in God. Not only is Owen an instrument of God, he knows he is God’s voice. From an early age, Owen understands the complexity of religion and knows his purpose in life, something we rarely grasp even in our entire lifetime. His prophesies only help confirm to himself that he is God’s savior. Religion is an influential and essential part of this novel because Owen embodies Christ through his bold and giving actions.
Owen believes he is special, and his faith is strong because he knows that he has a duty during his time on Earth, mostly to help those around him understand the true Faith and strengthen the faith of others, especially John. In contrast to Christ, whom Owen is to resemble, Owen has many flaws. Beyond his physical flaws are those of the mind and emotions, including language, sexual passion, and ill thought, but Owen knows that he is the “ONLY ONE WHO CAN FIT IN THE CRIB”, the only one who can take on these challenges and responsibilities before him (184). Just as Christ was crucified on the cross to save the world from its sins, Owen seems to know from the very beginning that he is a hero, and he “(has) TO GO. IT’S WHERE (he’s) A HERO” (471). Owen also fears his known “OBLIGATIONS, DESTINY, AND FATE”, just as Christ feared his suffering on the cross, but Owen knows that it is “THE WAY YOU KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO” that keeps him faithful and strong through his journey (471). Through the entire novel, John sees the dedication and love for God that Owen possesses. John’s longing for the same type of completeness and peace grows, and it reaches the climax when Owen speaks through John’s father to tell John where the ball was (538-539). John’s proclamation from the very beginning was that “(Owen) is the reason (he) believes in God; (He is) a Christian because of Owen Meany” (1). The importance of religion in Irving’s novel is evident through the characters of John and Owen and the journeys they go on together.
@ JBrink – I liked how you touched on Owen being a “virgin birth”. The fact that his parents told him at a young age that he was the second immaculate conception would certainly influence Owen’s belief that he was in fact intended to be an instrument of God.
@EL2001 – I enjoyed your description of Owen’s faith as having shining intensity and certainty. I also liked your assertion that John learned to believe in God simply through the knowledge of Owen’s life.
@ Dan.Wilson – I liked how you discussed how John affirmed his faith through his continued prayer for God to bring Owen back. It really solidified Owen’s influence on John.
@Erin – Great connection between Owen’s comment “ Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” and the remarks of Christ during his crucifixion. I never would have made that connection. Very insightful. That could also connect to Christ’s sacrificial death and how Owen solidifies his divine nature with his sacrificial death.
@ Haley – I like how you compared Owen watching over John’s mother to God watching over people. Very insightful.
@JessieGruber – Good Opening. Very powerful. I like how you mentioned that Owen helped John believe in the unseeable.
@ Sarah Bass – I like how you picked up on society perpetuating the idea that he is an instrument God, therefore reinforcing his belief.
@ Allison – I’m glad you pointed out Owen’s understanding of the complexities of religion, which lend to his belief that he is an instrument of God.
@ christianavastardis - I enjoyed your interpretation of the quote "THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FIT IN THE CRIB" as Owen being the sole person that could take on the challenges that God has placed before him. It emphasizes his status as an instrument of God.
Owen Meany very much so believes that he is God Instrument. Everything in his life supports this statement. Owen is changing people’s lives from the moment they meet him. Throughout the entire novel Owen gives rise to death and he also saves lives. These two acts are only a token of what God himself could do. Even as John’s mother is about to die Owen Meany is praying. Unusual for the situation instead of freaking out, Owen looks to God. “GOD HAS TAKEN YOUR MOTHER… MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT…I AM GOD’S INSTRUMENT” (337). Owen was blessed with being God’s gift; similar to Jesus, Owen was conceived with out sexual intercourse. This builds a comparison between Jesus and Owen, and Jesus was God’s instrument. Owen being God’s instrument not only affects John by taking his mother away, but also “he [was] the reason [he] believed in God” (1). Clearly Owen had a lasting impact on John. After his mother’s death, he became more and more fascinated with Owen. Owen being the reason John believes in Christ is a lasting affect that will surpass both of their lives.
@Ray Ramirez - i liked how you brought up Owen's initial reaction to john's mother's death and compared it to what a normal reaction might be. It shows Owen's devotion to his religion as well as reinforces why he may believe himself to be an instrument of God. Good job!
In John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” Owen is a self-proclaimed instrument of God from the very beginning of the novel. However, we see him grow into this role more and more in the eyes of John. In the beginning of the novel when Owen declares himself an instrument of god, John remembers wondering how “a fellow eleven-year-old was thinking any such of a thing.” However, as time progresses in the novel, John, as well as the reader begin to see Owen Meany as more and more of a Christ figure, despite some of his flaws. Some of his flaws include heavy swearing, a childish physical appearance, and even wishing to go to war could be seen as something that many Christians would condemn. However, throughout the novel, Irving chooses to continue to present Owen as an instrument of God. When Owen cuts off John’s finger, he is actually doing John a massive favor so that John will not have to go to war. In this scene, Irving presents Owen as a Christ-like figure. It reminded me of the story of Jesus healing the blind man in the bible. Owen tells John, “NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU- TRUST ME… JUST THINK OF THIS AS MY LITTLE GIFT TO YOU.” Owen’s presentation in the novel as a Christ-like figure cannot be denied in the novel, just as Owen’s influence on John’s life cannot be overlooked. As John says himself on the first page of the novel, “he is the reason I believe in God.”
Owen believes that he is an instrument of God because of how different he is than the average person. Owen has been born abnormally small, and with an extremely different voice. Even though Owen is "different" than the norm in society, he is still blessed with the ability to manipulate people and situations to his advantage. In looking at Owen's voice, many people want to change his voice through surgery, however Owen believes that "IF GOD GAVE ME THIS VOICE, HE HAD A REASON". Owen can be seen as an instrument to God, because his voice is one of the distinct features that he carries with him, and he knows that his persuasive abilities have been sent as a gift from above with good cause. Owen's persuasive voice affects John's thinking in many ways. Owen is able to make John reflects on his views of politics, religion, and education, which is why Owen is an instrument of God. Owen helps John see that faith is all one needs to be aided by God, there is no need to sit in a religious institution where half of the people do not want to be there anyway, having religious faith can be just as important and counts for just as much.
@ Brooks I really liked how u tied in Owen's Christ-like figure throughout the entire book and not like just one section ect. I also liked the biblical story to tie in to that.
@ alex I really liked how you interperted Ownen's meaning in life through not only his actions but his existence. Although his actions are vital to the plot I think that he's appearance also plays a major role in more ways sometimes than his actions. I also liked how u tied in the church comment.
John Irving’s novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany, is graced by the protagonist, Owen Meany. What does it take to be a man of God some may ask? According to Owen Meany, the answer is faith. “Do not say ‘I am only a youth’… ‘Whatever I command you you shall speak” are the words spoken by the Lord that Owen Meany lives by. Despite his “wrecked voice,” he shares the word of the Lord with those around him, especially to his friend John who eventually confesses that he “trust[s] in God because of Owen Meany.” Owen’s expresses his strong devotion by not only speaking in his small voice the word of the Lord, but by sharing “HOW [HE] FEEL[S] ABOUT GOD.” By Owen saying ‘I CAN’T SEE HIM-BUT I ABSOLUTELY KNOW HE IS THERE,” truly reveals his dedication and therefore encourages those around his to share in the light and the love of Jesus Christ. Owen uses his gift of a small voice to fulfill the destiny paved by the Lord to connect to children with his innocent voice, and keep them calm in a time of such chaos. All that mattered in the end to Owen Meany was that his work of the Lord “SAVED THEM.”
Owen clearly believes he is God's instrument. Throughout the novel Owen both causes death and stops death, both actions he believes were the actions of God himself working through his hands. Being such a small child of 10, Owen criticizes the catholic church for tampering with his ability, "to talk to God directly," something no other child of 10 years old would have thought. Although he had his intense faith at such a young age he knew that, "faith grows at it's own pace." Owen intense amount of faith allowed him to believe he was the instrument of God. As a virgin birth Owen is placed on Earth by God and dies by the will of God. He has faith in the, "will of the Lord," and that faith will make him a hero
ReplyDeleteJohn always knew Owen was special. They grew up as best friends and parted as best friends. Other than a bond of friendship stretching from earth to heaven, John received one other thing from Owen and his work as God's instrument. John believes his best friend, "gave [him]more than he took from [him]," he credits Owen as, "the one who made [him] a believer." The thing Owen passed on to John was his faith in God, which made more of an impact on John than any one else in Gravesend.
Owen Meany has an absolute faith in God and seems to have possessed it from a very early age. When he is eleven, for example, he tells John that God knows who John's father is and will eventually identify him. Owen never doubts that there is a purpose to everything, and his faith in his own destiny as decreed by God never wavers. In contrast, John, as a child, has no particular religious beliefs or faith. He learns to believe in God mostly through his knowledge of Owen's seemingly miraculous life and death—particularly the fact that Owen possessed foreknowledge of the exact date and circumstances of his own death. However, John is never without his doubts. John’s belief does not have the shining intensity and certainty of Owen Meany's faith. John asks himself this question in connection with the performance of A Christmas Carol when Owen sees the gravestone marked with his own name and date of death. John quotes the question that Scrooge asks in Dickens's story: "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be or are they shadows of the things that May be, only?". From the evidence of the novel, the answer appears to be the former: these are things that will be, and nothing anyone can do can alter them. Certainly this is what Owen believes. He never feels that he has any choice, or free will. He tells John, "IT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO GO TO VIETNAM— IT'S WHERE I HAVE TO GO. IT'S WHERE I'M A HERO. I'VE GOT TO BE THERE." He is wrong about the place, of course, but everything else works out exactly as he foresaw it.
ReplyDeleteOwen Meany is truly God's instrument, just as Jesus Christ was, according to the Bible. Besides the fact that Owen and Jesus were both of immaculate conception, Owen also believes he was put on Earth to fulfill a destiny for the good of humankind, and accepts this fact, just as Jesus did. When writing in his diary, Owen writes:
ReplyDelete"LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM. NOW I KNOW FOUR THINGS. I KNOW THAT MY VOICE DOESN'T CHANGE-BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY. I KNOW THAT I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT. I KNOW WHEN I'M GOING TO DIE-AND I KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO DIE. I'M GOING TO BE A HERO! I TRUST THAT GOD WILL HELP ME, BECAUSE WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO LOOKS VERY HARD."
Owen really takes on this role as an instrument of God by his acceptance of his own destiny, or fate as he learns during his younger schooling years exactly when he will die. This premonition and vision from God reassures Owen and justifies for those around him that he really is an instrument of God.
Another part of Owen's responsibilities to himself and God are to touch those around him. His best friend John Wheelwright is probably learns the most from Owen over the course of their friendship, from kids to young adults. John, who narrates the book, comes right out at the beginning of the book and says that "Owen is the reason I believe in God. I am a Christian because of Owen Meany." Throughout the book, Owen's actions as an instrument of God build up John's belief in God, culminating to the day Owen knows he will die, and die a hero. When John sees this come true and Owen actually does save a crowd of orphans, John's belief in God is solidified and John ends the book pleading with God: "O God- please give him back! I shall keep asking you." Owen most definitely created a lasting impression on John as not only is he praying to God at the end of the book, he is affirming the fact that he will continue to pray and believe, making Owen's somewhat short time on Earth worthwhile.
In John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany," a devout young man, and those around him, considers himself to be a religious icon; something of a tool in God's plan to "connect with" those on Earth. "MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT," he says. "GOD HAS TAKEN MY HANDS. I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT." Owen thinks that he is a religious figure because he is treated as such. Christlike expectations are set for him and he, understandably, feels the need to live up to them. Even as a child, Owen has interesting views on theology and religion and is unafraid to critique the work of other religious thinkers. For instance, as a young boy, he says that Pastor Merrill is too intellectual, and that "BELIEF IS NOT AN INTELLECTUAL MATTER." Owen even goes so far as to say that if Pastor Merrill is full of doubt, "HE'S IN THE WRONG BUSINESS." He prays on behalf of others by saying, "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO," almost the exact words uttered by Christ as he hung from the cross. Owen even knows more about Scripture than most children his age, asking Barb Wiggin if she remembers when Joseph, Mary, and Jesus "GO TO JERUSALEM FOR PASSOVER AND JESUS GOES TO THE TEMPLE AND TALKS TO THE TEACHERS, AND JOSEPH AND MARY ARE WORRIED ABOUT HIM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND HIM - THEY'RE LOOKING ALL OVER FOR HIM - AND HE TELLS THEM , WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ME FOR, 'DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT I MUST BE IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE?'" It can also be inferred that Owen considers himself immortal - when he visualizes his gravestone, he sees no date of death, only his name. It is because of these actions that he is treated papally. Owen is called The Voice and he himself even goes so far as to invite Randolph White for a "private audience." John is very deeply affected by his friend's divine nature, which he firsts notices during their childhood together. "I did not believe that there were 'chosen ones,' or that God 'appointed' anyone, or that God gave 'assignments.'" However, by adulthood, John acknowledges that the reason for his Christianity is solely Owen Meany.
ReplyDeleteOwen Meany does not doubt for one minute that he is a God's instrument. Owen takes care of John's mother and watches over her "every breathe" and though he admired her as more than his friend's mother, his constant watchful eye has him watching over her just as God is watching over him. Owen is very strong in his faith and he even changes the nativity scene during the Christmas pageant. This change takes a power so strong that only God or God's instrument could make it happen. Owen may be small in stature but his religious faith is huge. John Irving admits that because of Owen he is such a strong religious follower. To convert a person to a religion takes great power but to keep that person following the faith is enormous and takes great strength. Owen Meany is John's best friend and even after they are gone he is always with John, just as God is always with his followers.
ReplyDelete"I AM AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD," the most resounding words of Owen Meany. Owen knew that God had plans for him from the beginning. Even from the time when he was lifted during Sunday school by the other students to when he played the Christ child as tween. His remarkably small statue was a sign to Owen that he was to bring goodness into the world from an unlikely package, just like the carpenter's son. In addition to this Owen felt that he was a shepherd of his flock. Reacting with the most important people in his life Owen tries to protect them from the dangers of life much like someone keeping vigil over the herd. This is the role that Owen played in John's role. While John is a self described "Joesph" he is protected by Owen when Owen removes John's finger so he is ineligible for the draft. In addition Owen also served to push John and his family as though he was a father to them all like God. It is no wonder that John felt such religious fervor after having the friendship of Owen Meany. In a few words, Owen filled a void that John had and inspired him to believe in the unseeable.
ReplyDeleteOwen Meany has a faith that is hard as stone and no one can take that from him. He truly believes that he is "GOD'S INSTRUMENT"(87). Throughout the novel he believes that he is the godly instrument of many significant events such as the death of John's mother. "GOD HAS TAKEN YOUR MOTHER. MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT. GOD HAS TAKEN MY HANDS. I AM GOD'S INSTRUMENT"(87). He had the power to take her life mistakenly though. Also Owen Meany feels that he is a Christlike figure because this is how society eventually begins to treat him as. Based on his physical features, being small and different in every way, it was almost expected of him to be special, which perpetuates the ideas of him being the instrument of God.
ReplyDeleteIt is apparent through John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany”, that religion is a key element. While Owen is God’s instrument in the novel, Owen also serves as the author’s inspiration. Owen, as discussed in the last blog, is a peculiar boy with a “wrecked” voice and “his hand[s] [were] too small to get a good grip”(4) on anything he held. Irving uses him as a Christ figure who not only causes death but also saves people from death. Just as Jesus was not perfect, Owen has many flaws including many physical “defects”, Owen didn’t look much like GOD’S INSTRUMENT in that fallen position” (337). Jesus was misunderstood and hated by many in the world but despite this hate, his light of truth shown as does Owen’s despite his deceiving appearance.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned, Owen is not only the cause of death but he also takes his own life in order to save lives. No one is perfect and Owen does accidentally kill John’s mother during a game. But he is also the reason that someone, his best friend John, has faith in God. Not only is Owen an instrument of God, he knows he is God’s voice. From an early age, Owen understands the complexity of religion and knows his purpose in life, something we rarely grasp even in our entire lifetime. His prophesies only help confirm to himself that he is God’s savior.
Religion is an influential and essential part of this novel because Owen embodies Christ through his bold and giving actions.
Owen believes he is special, and his faith is strong because he knows that he has a duty during his time on Earth, mostly to help those around him understand the true Faith and strengthen the faith of others, especially John. In contrast to Christ, whom Owen is to resemble, Owen has many flaws. Beyond his physical flaws are those of the mind and emotions, including language, sexual passion, and ill thought, but Owen knows that he is the “ONLY ONE WHO CAN FIT IN THE CRIB”, the only one who can take on these challenges and responsibilities before him (184). Just as Christ was crucified on the cross to save the world from its sins, Owen seems to know from the very beginning that he is a hero, and he “(has) TO GO. IT’S WHERE (he’s) A HERO” (471). Owen also fears his known “OBLIGATIONS, DESTINY, AND FATE”, just as Christ feared his suffering on the cross, but Owen knows that it is “THE WAY YOU KNOW WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO” that keeps him faithful and strong through his journey (471). Through the entire novel, John sees the dedication and love for God that Owen possesses. John’s longing for the same type of completeness and peace grows, and it reaches the climax when Owen speaks through John’s father to tell John where the ball was (538-539). John’s proclamation from the very beginning was that “(Owen) is the reason (he) believes in God; (He is) a Christian because of Owen Meany” (1). The importance of religion in Irving’s novel is evident through the characters of John and Owen and the journeys they go on together.
ReplyDelete@ JBrink – I liked how you touched on Owen being a “virgin birth”. The fact that his parents told him at a young age that he was the second immaculate conception would certainly influence Owen’s belief that he was in fact intended to be an instrument of God.
ReplyDelete@EL2001 – I enjoyed your description of Owen’s faith as having shining intensity and certainty. I also liked your assertion that John learned to believe in God simply through the knowledge of Owen’s life.
@ Dan.Wilson – I liked how you discussed how John affirmed his faith through his continued prayer for God to bring Owen back. It really solidified Owen’s influence on John.
@Erin – Great connection between Owen’s comment “ Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” and the remarks of Christ during his crucifixion. I never would have made that connection. Very insightful. That could also connect to Christ’s sacrificial death and how Owen solidifies his divine nature with his sacrificial death.
@ Haley – I like how you compared Owen watching over John’s mother to God watching over people. Very insightful.
@JessieGruber – Good Opening. Very powerful. I like how you mentioned that Owen helped John believe in the unseeable.
@ Sarah Bass – I like how you picked up on society perpetuating the idea that he is an instrument God, therefore reinforcing his belief.
@ Allison – I’m glad you pointed out Owen’s understanding of the complexities of religion, which lend to his belief that he is an instrument of God.
@ christianavastardis - I enjoyed your interpretation of the quote "THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FIT IN THE CRIB" as Owen being the sole person that could take on the challenges that God has placed before him. It emphasizes his status as an instrument of God.
Owen Meany very much so believes that he is God Instrument. Everything in his life supports this statement. Owen is changing people’s lives from the moment they meet him. Throughout the entire novel Owen gives rise to death and he also saves lives. These two acts are only a token of what God himself could do. Even as John’s mother is about to die Owen Meany is praying. Unusual for the situation instead of freaking out, Owen looks to God. “GOD HAS TAKEN YOUR MOTHER… MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT…I AM GOD’S INSTRUMENT” (337). Owen was blessed with being God’s gift; similar to Jesus, Owen was conceived with out sexual intercourse. This builds a comparison between Jesus and Owen, and Jesus was God’s instrument. Owen being God’s instrument not only affects John by taking his mother away, but also “he [was] the reason [he] believed in God” (1). Clearly Owen had a lasting impact on John. After his mother’s death, he became more and more fascinated with Owen. Owen being the reason John believes in Christ is a lasting affect that will surpass both of their lives.
ReplyDelete@Ray Ramirez - i liked how you brought up Owen's initial reaction to
ReplyDeletejohn's mother's death and compared it to what a normal reaction might be. It shows Owen's devotion to his religion as well as reinforces why he may believe himself to be an instrument of God. Good job!
In John Irving’s “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” Owen is a self-proclaimed instrument of God from the very beginning of the novel. However, we see him grow into this role more and more in the eyes of John. In the beginning of the novel when Owen declares himself an instrument of god, John remembers wondering how “a fellow eleven-year-old was thinking any such of a thing.” However, as time progresses in the novel, John, as well as the reader begin to see Owen Meany as more and more of a Christ figure, despite some of his flaws. Some of his flaws include heavy swearing, a childish physical appearance, and even wishing to go to war could be seen as something that many Christians would condemn. However, throughout the novel, Irving chooses to continue to present Owen as an instrument of God. When Owen cuts off John’s finger, he is actually doing John a massive favor so that John will not have to go to war. In this scene, Irving presents Owen as a Christ-like figure. It reminded me of the story of Jesus healing the blind man in the bible. Owen tells John, “NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU- TRUST ME… JUST THINK OF THIS AS MY LITTLE GIFT TO YOU.” Owen’s presentation in the novel as a Christ-like figure cannot be denied in the novel, just as Owen’s influence on John’s life cannot be overlooked. As John says himself on the first page of the novel, “he is the reason I believe in God.”
ReplyDeleteOwen believes that he is an instrument of God because of how different he is than the average person. Owen has been born abnormally small, and with an extremely different voice. Even though Owen is "different" than the norm in society, he is still blessed with the ability to manipulate people and situations to his advantage. In looking at Owen's voice, many people want to change his voice through surgery, however Owen believes that "IF GOD GAVE ME THIS VOICE, HE HAD A REASON". Owen can be seen as an instrument to God, because his voice is one of the distinct features that he carries with him, and he knows that his persuasive abilities have been sent as a gift from above with good cause. Owen's persuasive voice affects John's thinking in many ways. Owen is able to make John reflects on his views of politics, religion, and education, which is why Owen is an instrument of God. Owen helps John see that faith is all one needs to be aided by God, there is no need to sit in a religious institution where half of the people do not want to be there anyway, having religious faith can be just as important and counts for just as much.
ReplyDelete@ Brooks
ReplyDeleteI really liked how u tied in Owen's Christ-like figure throughout the entire book and not like just one section ect. I also liked the biblical story to tie in to that.
@ alex
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you interperted Ownen's meaning in life through not only his actions but his existence. Although his actions are vital to the plot I think that he's appearance also plays a major role in more ways sometimes than his actions. I also liked how u tied in the church comment.
John Irving’s novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany, is graced by the protagonist, Owen Meany. What does it take to be a man of God some may ask? According to Owen Meany, the answer is faith. “Do not say ‘I am only a youth’… ‘Whatever I command you you shall speak” are the words spoken by the Lord that Owen Meany lives by. Despite his “wrecked voice,” he shares the word of the Lord with those around him, especially to his friend John who eventually confesses that he “trust[s] in God because of Owen Meany.” Owen’s expresses his strong devotion by not only speaking in his small voice the word of the Lord, but by sharing “HOW [HE] FEEL[S] ABOUT GOD.” By Owen saying ‘I CAN’T SEE HIM-BUT I ABSOLUTELY KNOW HE IS THERE,” truly reveals his dedication and therefore encourages those around his to share in the light and the love of Jesus Christ. Owen uses his gift of a small voice to fulfill the destiny paved by the Lord to connect to children with his innocent voice, and keep them calm in a time of such chaos. All that mattered in the end to Owen Meany was that his work of the Lord “SAVED THEM.”
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