Floating Armless :: Philosophy, God

In A Prayer for Owen Meany John Ivring uses several symbols to explore the themes of emergency and divine control. Ivring describes several objects and characters as being armless to represent a sacrifice made by a divine influence. Owen Meany in accompaniment is often expound as being above the ground to represent what he sees as his position as theologys instrument.Owen is first described as being held in the air when attending Sunday school(p 2). Later in the book John repeatedly picks up Owen and raises him to a basketball basket so he can practice a slam dunk that becomes known as the shot. Before Owens destruction he is once once more lifted to a high window using the shot in order to protect a group of children below (p 612). Finally Owen floats above the smart trees after his death (p 615).In part, Owens repeated flight is practical. Practicing the shot gave Owen and John the ability to place the grenade on the windows. However, Owens flight, particularly after his deat h also alludes that Owen is closer to the heavens and reinforces his role as Gods instrument (p 87). After Owens death, John points out that There were forces that contributed to our illusion of Owens weightlessness they were forces that we failed to believe in-and they were also lifting up Owen Meany, taking him out of our hands. (p 617) This suggests that Owen was being lifted be divine forces from childhood until they lifted him above the palm trees. Owen was reassured throughout the novel throughout the novel that nothing happens by accident and that he was fated to die on July 8, 1968(p 607). Owen feels his death is a part of Gods plan and does not attempt to change his fate. This ties into the theme of divine control. He was carried by spiritual beings through his life to fulfill his role in saving the children. In A Prayer for Owen Meany many characters seem to suffer amputations. The Indian chief Watahantowet draws an armless totem when he sells his land(p 8). Owen amputates the stuffed armadillos claws to represent his delinquency and grief after accidentally killing Tabitha Wheelwright (p 86). The Meanys nativity set features a one-handed Joseph and a three-legged cow (p 183). Tabithas dressmakers button up is armless until Owen gives it the arms he removed from a statue of Mary Magdalene (p 553), one of which is later separated again from the dummy (p 555).