There has always been two driving forces in our culture, doubt and faith. The novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, tackles the ceaseless debate if doubt can exist alongside faith, to convey this message Irving implores two diverse characters. Owen Meany, an extremely faithful follower of Christ, and Johnny Wheelwright who is doubtful of the supernatural forces that Owen believes. However, both characters have transgressions against established systems in society. While faith and doubt are on opposite sides of the spectrum, Owen and Johnny are able to have a blooming friendship that eventually allows Johnny to grow his faith through Owen. Owen Meany is a unique character as he has an unusual voice and diminutive size, figuratively
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Johnny is doubtful that God has a plan like Owen, but he also has doubt in God entirely. Johnny is angry at God for his mother’s death, and his father for not being in his life. As once he meets his father, who is doubtful like him, he states “In my sorry father’s case, my disappointment with him was heightened by his refusal to admit that Owen Meany had managed...to reveal Rev. Mr. Merrill’s identity to me (pg.543)”. However, as the novel progresses Mr. Merrill and Johnny begin to have a stronger faith, Mr. Merrill from a trick that Johnny played on him to believe, and Johnny from Owen’s life as at the beginning he states, “What faith I have I owe to Owen Meany, a boy I grew up with. It is Owen who made me a believer (pg.2)”. Irving’s use of diction, “What faith I have” proves that even though Johnny learns to have faith through Owen he still has doubt and anger, as seen in his interjections about America and the Raegan Administration. Johnny has doubt in the reason why Owen had to die as the closing sentence he pleads with God, “O God! Please give him back! I shall keep asking You (pg.617).” The closing sentence conveys Johnny’s faith through Owen, but also the longing he has for his lost …show more content…
In a grander scheme of life, Irving is able to convey how the power of doubt and faith rule one’s life. Doubt, can hold one’s true ambitions in life, while Faith can power one to extreme measures. In the case of Owen and Johnny, both faith and doubt must live in harmony as seen in their lasting friendship.
In conclusion, the debate on whether faith and doubt can live together is met with Irving’s compelling words. Too much faith or too much doubt can be dangerous to one’s character, however when one has faith alongside doubt it creates an equal relationship, or one whole
Johnny is doubtful that God has a plan like Owen, but he also has doubt in God entirely. Johnny is angry at God for his mother’s death, and his father for not being in his life. As once he meets his father, who is doubtful like him, he states “In my sorry father’s case, my disappointment with him was heightened by his refusal to admit that Owen Meany had managed...to reveal Rev. Mr. Merrill’s identity to me (pg.543)”. However, as the novel progresses Mr. Merrill and Johnny begin to have a stronger faith, Mr. Merrill from a trick that Johnny played on him to believe, and Johnny from Owen’s life as at the beginning he states, “What faith I have I owe to Owen Meany, a boy I grew up with. It is Owen who made me a believer (pg.2)”. Irving’s use of diction, “What faith I have” proves that even though Johnny learns to have faith through Owen he still has doubt and anger, as seen in his interjections about America and the Raegan Administration. Johnny has doubt in the reason why Owen had to die as the closing sentence he pleads with God, “O God! Please give him back! I shall keep asking You (pg.617).” The closing sentence conveys Johnny’s faith through Owen, but also the longing he has for his lost …show more content…
In a grander scheme of life, Irving is able to convey how the power of doubt and faith rule one’s life. Doubt, can hold one’s true ambitions in life, while Faith can power one to extreme measures. In the case of Owen and Johnny, both faith and doubt must live in harmony as seen in their lasting friendship.
In conclusion, the debate on whether faith and doubt can live together is met with Irving’s compelling words. Too much faith or too much doubt can be dangerous to one’s character, however when one has faith alongside doubt it creates an equal relationship, or one whole