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A Prayer for Owen Meany Essay

Symbolism and irony are often used by authors to enhance the depth and captivate the reader into thinking deeper about the book. In A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving utilizes both of these literary devices to make the book more interesting and profound. Using symbolism, Irving can represent one significant idea or theme in the story with an item or person, while irony is a paradoxical occurrence that adds profundity to the work. Irving’s use of irony with one of the main characters, Owen Meany, and his use of the symbolic name Hester to relate a similar situation to the famous novel, The Scarlet Letter, are significant literary devices that make the plot more philosophical. Owen’s irony juxtaposes his religious beliefs against his nonreligious upbringing, while the use of the name Hester alludes many of The Scarlet Letter’s themes to A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Throughout the book, Owen’s religious convictions and his pious behaviors portray irony in contrast to his parents’ secular beliefs, and develop a feeling of divine uncertainty in Owen for the readers. Owen is the most religious person in the book, as the narrator John even claims that he is a Christian because of Owen. Owen demonstrates his religious enthusiasm when he often repeats lines from the Bible. After Sagamore the dog was hit by a diaper truck, Owen is compelled to recite the verse from John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (pg181) Once again, when he was unhappy of the directors of his play, he recites from Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”(pg 151)...

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...sting. The irony of Owen’s piousness and his secular upbringing elevates him to a divine authority and hints at subtle similarities to Jesus Christ. It also foreshadows his possible martyrdom, and can lead to a relatable ending of Owen dying a hero’s death. The symbolism of the name Hester from The Scarlet Letter relates to both Tabby and Hester Eastman. This symbolism is particularly valuable because it allows us to view both characters in contrast with the prominent Hester Prynne. It aids us into looking at Tabby Wheelwright’s fling and red dress from another perceptive, and may also foreshadow Hester’s imminent punishment for her promiscuity. Overall, Irving did a solid job in integrating both irony and symbolism in A Prayer for Owen Meany, and the subtle rather than straightforward uses of these literary devices make the novel more philosophical and open-ended.