What Does A Prayer For Owen Meany

God works in mysterious ways. Everything that happens in someone’s life is meant to happen and not a coincidence. People like the idea of believing in a religious and stronger power because it’s a reassuring force that allows people to believe in something when nothing seems to make logical sense. This is exactly the case for the narrator, John, in A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. As stated in the beginning of the novel, Owen is the reason John believes in God and makes him a believer. John’s sense and belief in God allow him to make sense of everything that happens in the novel that didn’t seem possible. The things Owen are capable of and the knowledge he knows prior to the events that occur are only possible if there is a higher power

Johnny finds Owen sobbing backstage, and Owen describes that instead of seeing Ebenezer Scrooge’s name on the gravestone, he sees his own name appear. Not only that, but Owen states that, “IT WASN’T JUST MY NAME… I MEAN, NOT THE WAY I EVER WRITE IT… IT WAS MY REAL NAME–IT SAID THE WHOLE THING… (254). This scene adds immense shock and foreshadowing, because it wasn’t just a vision, but it shows Owen’s gravestone that will be in the future. At this point in the novel, Owen knows when he is going to die and ultimately the gravestone that is at his burial site is created by Owen himself. Furthermore, even though Owen denies his knowledge of seeing a date on the tombstone, John presumably can identify that Owen knows the date of his death. Owen now know the date in which his death will arrive and that he needs to perfect “the shot” for this timely arrival. Owen doesn’t want to admit what he sees because he knows the probability that it will come true and that if John knows about it he may try to protect Owen and prevent the situation from occurring. Johnny later discovers that it didn’t just state Paul O. Meany, Jr., but also states he’s a First Lieutenant. At this point, Owen’s foreshadowing shows him that he’s God’s instrument and that he has a solid grasp of his future and inevitable death. Both

The novel focuses on the aspect of Owen being an unusual, knowledgeable character – a Christ-like figure – which indicates that something will inevitably happen to Owen. When Owen finds out when he is going to die and all the stuff that occurred in his dream, he wasn’t just going to sit back and let life take its course. Owen is aware of his responsibilities as a friend to Johnny and himself, along with his destiny. Owen says to John, “I DON’T WANT TO BE A HERO… IT’S NOT THAT I WANT TO BE – IT’S THAT I AM A HERO. I KNOW THAT’S WHAT I’M SUPPOSED TO BE” (471). From that moment on, Owen knew his purpose and mission in life. From that moment he sees his name on the gravestone, his whole life is foreshadowing his death and changes his thought process. All his actions are bringing himself one step closer to God and fulfilling his dreams. The symbolism of foreshadowing reveals John Irving’s greatest intention for this work of