Throughout the novel "a prayer for Owen Meany," by John Irving, the main character is portrayed as a very religious martyr. In the Christian faith Jesus Christ is a martyr as well. Although there are many differences between the life of Jesus, as depicted in the bible and Owen Meany, there are many similarities as well, so many in fact, that the reader is forced to ponder if these similarities are intentional.

Jesus Christ was a miracle birth: he was born from a virgin.

"The virgin will be with child and she will give birth to a son" - Matthew 1:23

To be born from virgin makes the child blessed because the mother is then untouched and pure. Owen Meany was also born from a virgin.

"'You're saying Owen Meany was a virgin birth?' I asked Mr. Meany; he wouldn't look at me, but he nodded vigorously.

According to the bible if a women is with child, but is also untouched, then the child is a son of God. It was a miracle that Mary became impregnated with Jesus; it was a miracle that Mrs. Meany be

There are many differences between the life of Jesus and Owen Meany. Obviously they are very different people. But there are many similarities as well, so many, in fact, that the reader must give pause to speculate on whether or not these biblical allusions are intentional. Both Jesus and Owen were glorified in both their births, both having been born of a virgin. Their lives, after that point, were, for the most part, dissimilar, but by the end both died under similar circumstances. This raises a lot of questions, such as whether or not the author is trying to indicate that Owen Meany is a second Messiah; the bible does indicate that God will send another of his sons to earth someday. Or did the author intend that Owen was simply a hapless pawn in a grand scheme of God? These questions, and many more, help to make the book an immensely enjoyable experience.

In Matthew 16:21 to Matthew 16:28 Jesus predicts his own death. God allows Jesus to see how he is going to die and why he is going to die in order that Jesus knew how he would fulfil the will of God. Owen was similarly informed of h

Some common words found in the essay are:
Owen Meany, Jesus Owen, Jesus Christ, Meany Messiah, John Jesus', Owen Vietnam, God Owen, God Matthew, John John, Meany Obviously, owen meany, jesus owen, born virgin, jesus christ, life jesus, owen's life, john inspired chronicle, faith jesus, similarities reader, differences life, john's faith, differences life jesus,
Approximate Word count = 737
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)