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The theme of death and dying in A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving is
constant throughout the novel. Many events that prepare the characters for death
occur through the death of Tabitha Wheelwright, through Owen’s faith and
religion, also through Owen’s own death. In relation to the book and reality,
there are events in life that people encounter that prepare themselves for
death. In the novel, the event of Tabitha Wheelwright’s death is the first and
also one of the most important events. John and Owen experience death of a loved
one at an early age when Owen accidentally kills Tabitha with a baseball. After
this event John and Owen encounter many feelings that are associated with death.
John felt anger towards his mother for leaving him so soon. John wanting to know
many things about his mother could not be answered. This is evident in pages
34-35 where John wanted to know who his father was, but his mother had already
left before she could even tell him. Owen felt the emotion of guilt. Though the
death of John’s mother was an accident, Owen blames himself. “GOD HAS TAKEN YOUR
MOTHER. MY HANDS WERE THE INSTRUMENT. GOD HAS TAKEN MY HANDS. I AM GOD’S
INSTRUMENT.” - P. 87 In this quote, the only way for Owen to deal with the
accident is by associating it with his faith.
John’s and Owen’s feelings are
natural when people lose a close one, but it helps them embrace death later down
the road, and also their own. Owen’s unconditional faith helped John go on after
his mother’s death. Owen’s constant bible references made John feel comfortable
about death than to fear it. “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the
Lord. He believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” – P. 181 In this quote, Owen is
reciting out from the bible to John to convince him of life after death. When
you die, it is not the end, but the beginning of a new life with God. “Into
paradise may the angels lead you.” – P. 616 Owen telling John to reassure him
that the angels will guide him into Heaven after death. Owen’s complete faith in
God helped John understand death as not a tragedy but a transitional journey.
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