Miracles For Owen Analysis
Owen and parents—(audience thinks he is asking a metaphysical question)
John—obsesses about American politics, doesn’t live there; doesn’t know much about Canada
Grandmother becomes slave to tv—uses energy to complain; keeps her active
Hester—upset because parents have no special plans “for her salvation” Why not?
Miracles for Owen—cannot be proved, just believed, another reference to faith
Owen and illness? Vision? “sometimes my vision dims”
Catholics—he thinks they worship objects; Mary Magdalene—placed under archway going nowhere
“Mary” attracted more light than any other object—reference to Tabitha?
Owen doesn’t like nuns—unnatural?
John—Americans sense of morality misplaced—outraged by Gary Hart’s extramarital
activities but tolerate Reagan’s “immoral” policies concerning the Contras in Nicaragua.
Dandelions—something different that must be destroyed? Owen Meany himself?
Disillusioned with JFK: if you can rationalize adultery, you can rationalize other immoral behavior; Owen believes that Catholics believe that they can be free of their sins and forgive themselves just by going to confession
John and grandmother both seem to enjoy critiquing the world; John obsessed by newspapers and consumed with political and moral issues of the day
Marilyn Monroe—“that’s what powerful men do to this country” “they makes themselves appear moral”
Perfection and inability to achieve or preserve it
Success at a high cost
Repressed and exploited sexuality
Loss of innocence
Sexuality so overpowering it is difficult to understand
Naivete
Vulnerability
John—so psychologically damaged he cannot have any kind of a sexual relationship.
The death of JFK—a triumph of television—made an instant hero/romanticizing death. America’s moral decline—blurring line between what is good and what is bad. Demoralizing/addictive. Rots minds but we enjoy it anyway. TV is also the way America first learned directly about death,war,fraud,etc.
Owen tells John that John needs to make a decision about what he is going to do when deferment expires. He tells John to find the courage to act. John says that he thinks whatever happens is “up for grabs,” so he does not need courage. Some critics think this exchange is a discussion of free will.
Owen thinks that he is free to decide how he tells a family about viewing their loved one’s body and that the manner of showing does matter. He also thinks John has free will to decide to go to Vietnam or Canada.
“Just think of this as my little gift to you.” Before he cuts his finger off he reiterates his belief in free will: “You can do anything you want to do—if you believe you can do it.”
Merrill—John disappointed because he lacks faith and courage. Lacks the faith to believe in a miracle like Owen; lacks the courage to have told John the truth about himself
Merrill felt self-loathing whenever he saw Tabitaha—drop dead (sometimes when people dislike/hate others, it’s themselves they really dislike)—meshing sexuality and spirituality.
Theme about belief: sometimes it is easier, fewer doubts, when you don’t believe. Harder to stay faithful—to believe “For although I believe I know what the real miracles are, my belief in God disturbs and unsettles me much more than not believing ever did…belief poses so many unanswerable questions!”
Owen’s moment of doubt about why he is not in Viet Nam to save the children (Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, he asks God to release him from his future if it is not really necessary for him to be killed. Then Jesus submits to God’s will—and so does Owen.)
John—obsesses about American politics, doesn’t live there; doesn’t know much about Canada
Grandmother becomes slave to tv—uses energy to complain; keeps her active
Hester—upset because parents have no special plans “for her salvation” Why not?
Miracles for Owen—cannot be proved, just believed, another reference to faith
Owen and illness? Vision? “sometimes my vision dims”
Catholics—he thinks they worship objects; Mary Magdalene—placed under archway going nowhere
“Mary” attracted more light than any other object—reference to Tabitha?
Owen doesn’t like nuns—unnatural?
John—Americans sense of morality misplaced—outraged by Gary Hart’s extramarital
activities but tolerate Reagan’s “immoral” policies concerning the Contras in Nicaragua.
Dandelions—something different that must be destroyed? Owen Meany himself?
Disillusioned with JFK: if you can rationalize adultery, you can rationalize other immoral behavior; Owen believes that Catholics believe that they can be free of their sins and forgive themselves just by going to confession
John and grandmother both seem to enjoy critiquing the world; John obsessed by newspapers and consumed with political and moral issues of the day
Marilyn Monroe—“that’s what powerful men do to this country” “they makes themselves appear moral”
Perfection and inability to achieve or preserve it
Success at a high cost
Repressed and exploited sexuality
Loss of innocence
Sexuality so overpowering it is difficult to understand
Naivete
Vulnerability
John—so psychologically damaged he cannot have any kind of a sexual relationship.
The death of JFK—a triumph of television—made an instant hero/romanticizing death. America’s moral decline—blurring line between what is good and what is bad. Demoralizing/addictive. Rots minds but we enjoy it anyway. TV is also the way America first learned directly about death,war,fraud,etc.
Owen tells John that John needs to make a decision about what he is going to do when deferment expires. He tells John to find the courage to act. John says that he thinks whatever happens is “up for grabs,” so he does not need courage. Some critics think this exchange is a discussion of free will.
Owen thinks that he is free to decide how he tells a family about viewing their loved one’s body and that the manner of showing does matter. He also thinks John has free will to decide to go to Vietnam or Canada.
“Just think of this as my little gift to you.” Before he cuts his finger off he reiterates his belief in free will: “You can do anything you want to do—if you believe you can do it.”
Merrill—John disappointed because he lacks faith and courage. Lacks the faith to believe in a miracle like Owen; lacks the courage to have told John the truth about himself
Merrill felt self-loathing whenever he saw Tabitaha—drop dead (sometimes when people dislike/hate others, it’s themselves they really dislike)—meshing sexuality and spirituality.
Theme about belief: sometimes it is easier, fewer doubts, when you don’t believe. Harder to stay faithful—to believe “For although I believe I know what the real miracles are, my belief in God disturbs and unsettles me much more than not believing ever did…belief poses so many unanswerable questions!”
Owen’s moment of doubt about why he is not in Viet Nam to save the children (Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, he asks God to release him from his future if it is not really necessary for him to be killed. Then Jesus submits to God’s will—and so does Owen.)