The Main Players
Main Characters
Early
Characters
Late
Characters
Minor
Characters
Real
Characters
The definition of a major character varies from person to
person, but here are some of the characters which I feel are most prominent in
the novel.
Owen Meany- The hero of our story, albeit tragic.
The namesake of the novel, the instrument of God. Could he truly know the date
and cause of his death? Was his sole purpose in life only to save the Vietnamese
children? The mind wants to say "No" because the alternative is too fantastic to
comprehend. Still, it is Owen who helps Johnny through school, give him the gift
of reading, saves his life, and keeps him out of Vietnam.
John
Wheelwright- An alternative to Owen would be to make Johnny the hero of the
story. It is his life that is profoundly altered by what happened to Owen. He is
the illegitimate child of his mother, the son of a cursed pastor. He is a
troubled soul, his love of Owen is only matched by his hatred of Owen's control,
the control that he never has in his life. He is the narrator of the story, the
only one who witnessed the miracle that was Owen from beginning to end.
Hester Eastman- Johnny's bizzare cousin. She is an "aging rock queen".
Her loudness is matched only by her tendency to be somewhat promiscuous, but
only Owen is able to win her heart. She has a strange relationship with her only
cousin, Johnny. His love for her goes beyond family affection, yet neither of
them are able to understand it fully. She is the angry soul in a world of people
conceding defeat.
Harriet Wheelwright- Johnny's grandmother, the
venerable queen of Gravesend. She is the arrogant, fussy, picky, critical, old
fashioned ruler of 80 Front Street. All that aside, she is still one of the most
enjoyable characters in the novel. She married Mr. Wheelwright (whose name is
never revealed) not only for love, but for the name as well. She is Mrs.
Wheelwright and nothing less. It is through her influence and money that Owen is
able to get the clothes he needs to attend the Academy. She lives to be 99 years
old, dying 2 weeks prior to her 100th birthday.
Tabitha Wheelwright-
Johnny's mother and arguably the most scandalous person ever to live in
Gravesend. Johnny's birth, his father and her refusal to discuss both of them
landed her in at the bottom of the social ranks in the small town. Her affair
with Pastor Merrill didn't hurt her and gave her what she wanted which was one
child. Johnny always thought she was the perfect mother and there was never any
words to the contrary. She loved Johnny and she loved Owen too, almost as if he
were her son as well. Her death at the hands of Owen's foul ball was the
defining moment of Johnny's childhood. Just for fun, here are the lyrics to
Tabitha's favorite Frank Sinatra song: Too
Romantic
Daniel Needham- Tabitha's unfortunate husband, unfortunate
in the sense that he loves Tabitha immensely and yet is she is taken from him
after only one year of marriage. His love for her is evident as he remains a
widower for the rest of his life. He is Johnny's adoptive father, something that
allows Johnny to attend the academy. Dan served quite effectively as Johnny's
father, giving him everything his true father did not.
Reverend Lewis
Merrill- Johnny's biological father and the pastor of the town's
Congregationalist Church. His weakness and his failed attempts to be strong
disappoint Johnny immensely. However, it is Pastor Merrill's conversion to the
utmost faith in God that redeems him a little in Johnny's eyes.
Martha
Eastman- Johnny's aunt, Tabitha's sister. Martha is jealous of her sister for
being prettier, but still loves her. She calls Tabitha "a little simple" out of
misunderstanding. Her inability to comprehend what happens to her sister is a
sign of her familial affection.
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