John Irving, a prayer for owen meany Essay Example for Free

John Irving, a prayer for owen meany EssayIn the first chapter of A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving displays an expansive, articulate style that relies heavily on generous descriptions to create detailed portraits of the New England of his youth, especially the title character who inspires him to believe in idol and Christ. Irvings language throughout the chapter is articulate and his sentences long, peradventure to accommodate his rather abundant, detailed descriptions it is almost oratorical without being florid or long-winded, reflecting the fact that the bank clerk is descended from a prominent New England family (including the Puritan curate for whom he is named). He also relies heavily on memories, moving from his recollections of Owen to broader discussions of his own family and hometown, creating a context for the subsequent action and thus giving his memories a deeper meaning. In addition, Irving uses Owen as a symbol of Christ-like divinity the boy is something of a martyr for his suffering (indeed, he never tells on his peers for their abuses), and yet he takes away the narrators mother, however unintentionally, by hitting the foul ball that kills the narrators mother (hence the chapters title, The Foul Ball).Irving avoids sounding childish by using articulate adult language, but he conveys a childs point of view by speaking in a prosaic way about how he and his peers picked on the frail, undersized Owen. He conveys no immediate judgments or apologies for his actions (indeed, as a child he feels no humble for it), and he does not analyze his motivations.For example, when Owen offers a surprisingly mature complaint about church services, the narrator says, To these complaints, and others like them, I could respond only by picking up Owen Meany and holding him above my head (Irving 23), showing how other children are unable to comprehend Owen. He also implies adults stupidity by mentioning his oblivious Sunday school teacher and how the police chief and coach quarrel over the ball after his mothers death.The author wants the ref to understand his world (hence the detailed discussions of his town, family, and relationship with Owen) and especially Owens complex role in it. Though he mentions his Christianity at the very start, the narrator does not preach or scold the reader, admitting that he is a rather lazy Christian but also making clear that he feels deeply indebted(predicate) to him (despite Owens role in his mothers death) and makes the reader feel sympathy for the victimized Owen.Irvings language is richly descriptive without becoming tedious, and he recalls Owens characteristics humorously, especially his diminutive size and high-strangled voice (Owens words always appear in capitals). Irving communicates respect for Christianity, but not for the ritual or doctrine he admits his laziness and calls his approach a church-rummage faith (Irving 2). Instead, he believes in the divine power channeled through Ow en, whose intelligence and deep understanding of God set him apart from his peers.Irving implies that both the narrator and New England, despite their Puritan past, find religion uninspiring until Owen appears, and that Owen has vastly more potential to influence events than is shown in the first chapter. More explicitly, he evokes New Englands provincial values, especially the split between insiders (the descendants of Puritans, like the narrator) and outsiders (later arrivals, like Owens Irish-Catholic family), and Irving contrasts the regions harsh religious past with the narrators spiritual barrenness, for which Owen ultimately becomes a remedy.In the books first chapter, Irving shows the reader a rich picture of his characters world, creating the context in which the narrators transition from nonbeliever to Christian occurs. He presents Owen in a sympathetic light, as a keen-sighted yet victimized figure whose suffering and kindness bring enlightenment into a milieu that needs it. Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany. New York Ballantine, 1989.