John does not truly believe or stand up for anything. If Owen embodies confidence, then John is the epitome of doubt. More importantly, it proves that he is never wrong. His prescient nature helps the reader see the otherworldly presence that Owen exudes. Owen’s infallibility when it comes to interpreting the consequences of American foreign policy makes the reader feel uncomfortable – but in a good way. Irving’s choice in employing Owen Meany to describe the various social and political occurrences of the 1960s, specifically the Vietnam War, is impeccable. The dichotomy between Owen’s fervent faith and John’s relentless doubt drives the plot of the novel. While John dismisses this event as a “freak accident”, Owen believes it is divinely ordained and there is no such thing as accidents. In a strange turn of events, Owen Meany is responsible for John’s mother’s death after a foul ball he hits ends up killing her.

His best friend, Owen Meany, is unsettlingly tiny and has such an eccentric voice that the author uses CAPITAL LETTERS to distinguish it. Irving’s novel revolves around the life of John Wheelwright, a young boy growing up in the 1950s in Gravesend, New Hampshire. “A Prayer for Owen Meany” by Academy Award-winning novelist John Irving is a modern take on timeless issues such as the paradox of war, religion and political corruption, and compels the reader to question the implications of modern American life.

Author of a prayer for owen meany