A Prayer for Owen Meany EssaySymbolism and irony are often used by authors to enhance depth and inspire the reader to think more deeply about the book. In A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving uses these two literary devices to make the book more interesting and deeper. By using symbolism, Irving can represent an important idea or theme in the story with an object or person, while irony is a paradoxical event that adds depth to the work. Irving's use of irony with one of the main characters, Owen Meany, and his use of the symbolic name Hester to relate a situation similar to the famous novel The Scarlet Letter, are important literary devices that make the plot more philosophical. Owen's irony juxtaposes his religious beliefs with his non-religious upbringing, while the use of the name Hester alludes to many themes from The Scarlet Letter to A Prayer for Owen Meany. Throughout the book, Owen's religious beliefs and pious behaviors portray irony in contrast to his parents. ' secular beliefs, and develop a sense of divine uncertainty in Owen for readers. Owen is the most religious person in the book, as the narrator John even claims he is a Christian because of Owen. Owen demonstrates his religious enthusiasm when he often repeats verses from the Bible. After the dog Sagamore is hit by a diaper truck, Owen is forced to recite the verse from John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord; He who believes in me, even though he were dead, will live; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. (p. 181) Once again, while displeased with the directors of his play, he recites Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. » (p. 151)... middle of paper ......sting. The irony of Owen's piety and secular upbringing elevates him to divine authority and hints at subtle similarities with Jesus Christ. This also foreshadows his possible martyrdom and may lead to a relatable ending where Owen dies a hero's death. The symbolism of the name Hester from The Scarlet Letter relates to both Tabby and Hester Eastman. This symbolism is particularly valuable because it allows us to see the two characters in contrast to the prominent Hester Prynne. This helps us look at Tabby Wheelwright's adventure and red dress from another perspective, and may also foreshadow Hester's impending punishment for her promiscuity. Overall, Irving has done a solid job integrating both irony and symbolism into A Prayer for Owen Meany, and the subtle rather than direct uses of these literary devices make the novel more philosophical and open-ended..