Other People's Interpretations
Here are some bits of information and interesting tidbits that have been sent to me. All names and e-mail addresses are posted with the approval of the individual. All messages sent to me will be considered for inclusion on this page, but nothing will be added without permission! If an e-mail address is provided, feel free to contact them if you have more questions since these are not my discoveries!
From Kirsten N. concerning Mary Magdalene- Mary Magdalene was said to be a sinful woman whom Jesus healed of evil spirits. The interesting part is that Mary Magdalene had a sister named Martha, just like Tabitha Wheelwright who was deemed sinful for having her illegitamite son. My theory is that Mary Magdalene not only symbolizes the armless aspect of the story, but also represents Owens only real mother,
Tabitha.
From Chuck S., and English teacher, concerning Philips Exeter Academy and the town of Exeter, NH- I just went to Phillips Exeter Academy on the web and found this. By the way, there is a "Wheelright" building on campus. Don't forget the religious significance of the names in the book, John, Paul, Noah, Simon, Hester (a derivation of Ester). Biblical names all. Someone even told me that OM has religious significance.
From Susan S. concerning the school Bishop Strachen in Toronto, Canada- Bishop Strachan School where John teaches IS a real place. In the "Acknowledgements" page before the story begins, Irving acknowledges "Rev. Ann E. Tottenham, headmistress of The Bishop Strachan School," who was a "special source of help" to him, as well as the students and faculty there.
From a bunch of people concerning the poem "The Gift Outright" by Robert Frost- The poem was actually first published in 1942 and it would certainly have already been known to Owen at President Kennedy's inauguration ceremony. Many people have written to me about this. Sorry, it was an honest mistake on my part. I should have done more research.
From Abbey S. concerning Owen in general- Johnny is Owen's best friend, just as John was Christ's favored apostle
From Klaus M. concerning the origin of the character Owen Meany- I have just read a german study
about the relationship (and friendship) between John Irving and the
german author Gunter Grass. There are close connections between Owen
Meany and the novel "The Tin Drum" by Grass. The author of the study has got a letter by John Irving, and there he wrote: "Naturally, Owen is descended from Oskar [in "The Tin Drum"], as I have often said myself, but Owen is also descended from the Christ Child, and from the Ghost of Christmas Past in "A Christmas Carol". It is a character who comes to me from other books."
From Terry concering a possible biological cause for Owen's size-I just saw on 20/20 last night a report on primordial dwarfism. Is this what Owen had? It certainly fits the description--from the proportional size to the strange voice.
From Eric with a slip by the author-When they first start to talk about "the shot", they say that it was not called slam dunking at the time but rather something like "stuffing the ball", yet it says on the very same page that Owen started to be known as "Slam-Dunk Meaney" after him and Johnny had been doing the shot for a little while. This is a direct contradiction that probably the author overlooked.
From Ashley with some trivia about Vietnam-
REAL LIFE:
July 8th, 1959- first American combat death occurs in Vietnam.
July 8th, 1969- President Richard Nixon announces the first troop withdrawels from South Vietnam.
IN THE NOVEL:
July 8th, 1968- Owen Meany dies.
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