Image Study

Not just the cross, but graveyards are very significant in this book. It is involved in many scenes of the book- one memorable one being the funeral of Tabby.
"Into paradise may the angels lead you..."
The graveyard is a place that unfortunately, many of the main characters end up- including Owen. Owen is the character in the story though, that makes Christianity in general meaningful. He lives on it, and influences those around him. The cross represents Owen's very existence, and his puropse on earth. It plays a role in the story because of that very fact that Owen believes to be on a mission for God. In one of Owen's journal entries, he writes about a dream he had of him dying and reflects.
"Yesterday I was kicked out of school. Last night I had a dream. Now I know four things. I know that my voice doesn't change- but I still don't know why. I know that I am God's instrument. I know when I'm going to die- and now a dream has shown me how I'm going to die. I'm going to be a hero! I trust that God will help me,because what I'm supposed to do looks very hard."


The Vietnam War has an important role in the story. After Owen is expelled from school, he decides to join ROTC. He becomes obsessed with learning more about the military, and also the dream he had of his tombstone. He decides that God has meant for him to go fight in Vietnam, and die there.


Of course, the scene that always sticks to my mind from this story is the baseball game. I feel that it was one of the most important. It shaped the characters, and changed their whole lives. It brought Johnny and Owen in to their friendship for life. The baseball game was pretty much the rising action of the story- the starting point.
"And play is all we did, it seems to me now. We were both eleven the summer my mother died. It was our last year in Little League, which wer were already bored with."


In one chapter, Owen and Johnny must participate in their church's Christmas pageant. Every year, Owen is forced to play the acsending angel, and every year he hates it. This year, he gets the opportunity for a new role- playing the little Lord Jesus, which creates a very different and somewhat humorous show. It is interesting that Owen has gotten this role though, since he believes to be another of God's sons.
"The Rev. Mr. Wiggin, such a veteran of Christmas pageants, looked at Owen Meany with a profound respect- as if he'd seen the Christ Child come and go, but never before had he encountered a little Lord Jesus who was so perfect for the part."