John Irving’s novels are renowned for their intricate plots, quirky characters, and profound exploration of life’s big questions. Among his celebrated works, “A Prayer for Owen Meany” stands out as a deeply moving and thought-provoking story that grapples with themes of faith, destiny, and the enduring power of friendship. This novel, much like any great book, operates on multiple levels, moving seamlessly from the specific details of individual lives to universal truths about the human condition. Reading and writing about such a rich text requires a similar approach, connecting the personal experience to broader significance.
Set in the evocative landscape of a small New Hampshire town, the narrative follows the intertwined lives of John Wheelwright and Owen Meany from the 1950s through the tumultuous 1980s, with the Vietnam War serving as a critical backdrop. John, the narrator, hails from a privileged background, part of the town’s elite, yet he is characterized by his shyness and passivity. In stark contrast, Owen Meany emerges from a working-class family marked by dysfunction, yet he possesses an undeniable charisma, assertiveness, and unwavering conviction, despite his small stature and unusually high-pitched voice.
John Wheelwright’s narration unfolds from the perspective of his older self, living in self-imposed exile in Canada, looking back on a childhood and youth indelibly shaped by Owen Meany. This narrative structure anchors the story in both past and present, allowing for reflection and deeper understanding. John himself is intentionally portrayed as a somewhat bland character – a witness rather than the protagonist of his own life. He observes, he questions, but Owen is the catalyst for action and meaning. From the outset, we understand John’s spiritual quest, his journey through various denominations and counter-cultural movements, all in a search for understanding and faith. This spiritual yearning is paralleled by his search for his unknown father, a mystery concealed by his late mother.
“What made Mr. Merrill infinitely more attractive was that he was full of doubt; he expressed our doubt in the most eloquent and sympathetic way.”
This quote encapsulates a central theme: the appeal of questioning faith. Pastor Merrill, despite his own lack of conviction, becomes a pivotal figure for John. Through John and Owen, Irving seems to propose a revitalization of faith, not through blind adherence to dogma, but through the creation of new narratives that resonate with contemporary sensibilities.
“He taught the same old stories, with the same old cast of characters; he preached the same old virtues and values; and he theologized on the same old “miracles” – yet he appeared not to believe in any of it. His mind was closed to the possibility of a new story; there was no room in his heart for a new character of God’s holy choosing, or for a new “miracle”.”
If John embodies passive receptivity, Owen Meany is the active force, the potential “miracle.” He is driven by a profound sense of purpose, always knowing what he wants and possessing an almost uncanny ability to influence others. While some might find Owen a slightly too convenient plot device, his character is imbued with foreshadowing and a sense of destiny that is hard to ignore.
“On the subject of predestination, Owen Meany would accuse Calvin of bad faith. There were no accidents; there was a reason for that baseball – just as there was a reason for Owen being small, and a reason for his voice.”
And further emphasized:
“I remember how he had appeared to all of us: like a descending angel – a tiny but fiery god, sent to adjudicate the errors of our ways.”
“… he was still and would always be The Voice. He demanded attention; and he got it.”
The spiritual journey of these two friends is complex and multifaceted, marked by moments of profound insight and periods of slow, deliberate exploration. Beyond the overt themes of faith and destiny, two additional layers enrich the novel:
Firstly, “A Prayer for Owen Meany” is deeply rooted in personal memory. Irving draws heavily from his own experiences growing up in New Hampshire and attending a private school in Exeter, mirroring the sheltered childhood and evolving political awareness depicted in the book. This autobiographical element lends authenticity and emotional depth to the narrative. The novel beautifully navigates between universal themes and the intimate details of small-town life, although at times, the sheer volume of everyday minutiae can feel overwhelming. Irving’s brilliance shines through in his sharply drawn character portraits and his distinctive brand of ironic humor, which critiques societal ills with a nuanced, rather than overtly angry, approach. However, the older John, as narrator, occasionally veers into bitterness, particularly in his criticisms of American politics and leadership. Irving’s satirical eye targets various institutions, with schools and the military-industrial complex receiving particular scrutiny.
Secondly, the novel incorporates metafictional elements. The older John is not only a narrator but also a teacher and scholar of literature, reflecting on how stories shape our understanding of the world. This metafictional layer connects to the overarching theme of creating new narratives. John’s doctoral work on Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” and the concept of predestination within it serves as a key example. Irving, through John, emphasizes the power of storytelling, quoting Hardy:
“A story must be exceptional enough to justify its telling. We storytellers are all ancient mariners, and none of us is justified in stopping wedding guests, unless he has something more unusual to relate than the ordinary experiences of every average man and woman.”
This quote underscores the novel’s ambition – to tell an exceptional story, one that justifies its telling. However, despite the many compelling aspects of “A Prayer for Owen Meany,” some elements prevent it from reaching the pinnacle of Irving’s oeuvre for some readers.
One point of contention is the novel’s length and pacing. At times, the narrative feels overly detailed, dwelling on mundane events and reiterating key themes more than necessary. This repetition can feel like padding, as if the reader is being underestimated.
Another challenging aspect for some is the heavy emphasis on predestination. While central to the novel’s exploration of faith and Owen’s perceived destiny, this concept can be difficult for those who lean towards skepticism and value empirical evidence. John’s lifelong struggle to embrace belief in the absence of proof resonates with this inherent tension.
“It’s a no-win argument – that business of what we’re born with and what our environment does to us. And it’s a boring argument, because it simplifies the mysteries that attend both our birth and our growth.”
Finally, John himself, as a character, can be perceived as passive and somewhat unengaging. His romantic and career struggles often lack compelling interest, and his primary function seems to be as a conduit for the author’s exploration of faith. Owen, while a more dynamic and entertaining character, can veer into caricature. His larger-than-life persona and overtly symbolic role sometimes detract from his believability as a fully realized person.
Conclusion:
John Irving reaffirms his status as a masterful storyteller in “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” The novel is intellectually stimulating, emotionally resonant, and populated with unforgettable characters. Owen Meany himself is a truly memorable figure in contemporary literature. While the novel may not be without its flaws, its exploration of faith, fate, and the enduring bonds of friendship offers a rich and rewarding reading experience. For readers interested in novels that blend humor, pathos, and profound philosophical inquiry, “A Prayer for Owen Meany” is a worthwhile, albeit lengthy, journey. Those intrigued by Irving’s thematic concerns might also find it interesting to explore Günter Grass’s “The Tin Drum,” a novel that reportedly served as a source of inspiration for Irving’s work.
