The Significant Closing of a Prayer for Owen Meany
Summary:
Considers how the ending of John Irving's A Prayer for Own Meany, creates meaning for the whole book.
John Irving's, A Prayer for Owen Meany concludes in an exceptional manner. It creates closure by answering the questions of, why Owen acts the way he does, why Mr. and Mrs. Meany act the way they do, and whom John's father is. More meaning is created after Owen dies and his secrets are revealed.
After Owen's death when John visits the Meany family he finds Owen's diary. He had written everything in it including that he knew the exact date, place, and how he was going to die. John discovered why Owen was so deliberate on getting "the shot" in less than four seconds. The symbolism of Owen being lifted up suggests that he was like Christ and needed to be lifted up to save, just as Christ was on the cross. Owen knew his fate and relived it many times in his dreams; he didn't want to change it. He feared the future but he knew he shouldn't change it. He was just like Jesus in knowing his fate and living it out. Owen also knew why he looked and sounded the way he did. When the children are saved, Owen is the one the children trust because he is their size; he is also the only one they can hear because of his "SCREAM." This could be why Owen never tries to change the dream, because without him those children would die.
While speaking with Mr. Meany, John learns that the Meanys believe that Owen was a "virgin birth." This information ties Owen again with Jesus and explains why he was so persistent about being Baby Jesus in the Christmas pageant. The reference about the Catholic Church not believing in Owen's "virgin birth explains why the Meanys loathe many Catholic ideas; "believe in one virgin birth, why not in another one"" " They believe in that story, but they wouldn't listen to this one." Owen believes he is "God's Instrument" and his parents helped him come to that conclusion by telling him he had a "virgin birth." Finding the tombstone Owen made for himself also shocks Mr. Meany. This shows Owen's faith in his vision and also his faith in God for things to happen as they are supposedly "planned." The Meanys helped John create clarity to Owen's life.
John does not only find clarification to Owen's life, but he also finds something new about his life. The question of who John's father is continues throughout the whole book not only for the reader but for John and Owen as well. The answer is exposed when John is conversing with Pastor Merrill about Owen's funeral arrangements. Owen's voice speaks through Pastor Merrill, "LOOK IN THE THIRD DRAWER, RIGHT-HAND SIDE." The sight of the "instrument of death" ends the search right away. As the scene progresses it is confessed that the pastor prayed Tabby would just "drop dead" when he saw her that day at the game. Owen foreshadows the disappointment John goes through when he finds his father, earlier in the book. John also finds that his "father" has lost his faith. Irving uses irony when John restores Pastor Merrill's faith by using Tabby's dressmaker's dummy.
The meaning of little people doing great things is brought out more toward the conclusion of a book. The ending of the book answers many questions a reader may have while reading A Prayer for Owen Meany. It is a sudden yet pleasing conclusion and leaves readers satisfied.
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