Death and Dying in A Prayer Section: Book Reports
In the second half of the novel, Owen realizes that he will die and that he is God's instrument. Owen was placed on earth for a purpose, which he completes at the end. Owen's death helped him deal with his own death, preparing him for the worst. "LAST NITE 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." ' P. 416 This is where Owen has his dream, which tells him that he will be a hero by saving the orphan children from the grenade, which leads to his death. Also another event where Owen interrupted the Angel of Death made him believe he was going to be used to kill Tabitha Wheelwright. "In Owen's opinion, he had INTERUPTED AN ANGEL, he had DISTURBED AN ANGEL AT WORK, he had UPSET THE SCHEME OF THINGS." ' P. 102 This quote helps Owen explain and also convince himself that he was used to kill Tabitha because God had made him his instrument. Tabitha died for a reason, and God made sure that it was by Owen's hands because it brought John and Owen together. Owen Meany's death and him being an instrument of God, it helped John believe in God and that afterlife is true. Owen and John experienced death and dying through many deaths from the beginning to the end of the novel. Many events happened to John to lead him to believe in God, which ultimately helped him embrace death, events such as his mother's death, Owen's faith and Owen's claim that he is God's instrument and also his death.
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