Owen Meany Analysis
QUOTE 7
“It was a hymn that Owen liked, and we belted it out; we sang much more heartily-much more defiantly-than usual. The headmaster had nowhere to stand; he occupied the center stage- but with nothing to stand behind, he looked exposed and unsure of himself. As we roared out the hymn, the Rev. Lewis Merrill appeared to gain in confidence-and even in stature. Although he didn't look exactly comfortable beside the headless Mary Magdalene, he stood so close to her that the podium light shone on him, too. When we finished the hymn, the Rev. Mr. Merrill said: "Let us pray. Let us pray for Owen Meany," he said.” (415) Owen Meany truly triumphed against the headmaster in this scene despite his unfortunate expulsion. All of the students stood behind Owen, stripping the headmaster of any power he previously held over the student body, and leaving him defenseless. This passage also demonstrated how well-liked Owen was because of his work writing as ‘The Voice’ and generally rebelling against the school. Even Rev. Mr. Merrill had grown to like Owen, and supported him even though he could lose his job over this act of rebellion. Owen inspired the …show more content…
Until that summer, my long apprenticeship to maturity struck me as arduous and humiliating; Randy White had confiscated my fake draft card, and I wasn't yet old enough to buy beer-I wasn't independent enough to merit my own place to live, I wasn't earning enough to afford my own car, and I wasn't something enough to persuade a woman to bestow her sexual favors upon me. Not one woman had I ever persuaded! Until the summer of '62, I thought that childhood and adolescence were a purgatory without apparent end; I thought that youth, in a word,
“It was a hymn that Owen liked, and we belted it out; we sang much more heartily-much more defiantly-than usual. The headmaster had nowhere to stand; he occupied the center stage- but with nothing to stand behind, he looked exposed and unsure of himself. As we roared out the hymn, the Rev. Lewis Merrill appeared to gain in confidence-and even in stature. Although he didn't look exactly comfortable beside the headless Mary Magdalene, he stood so close to her that the podium light shone on him, too. When we finished the hymn, the Rev. Mr. Merrill said: "Let us pray. Let us pray for Owen Meany," he said.” (415) Owen Meany truly triumphed against the headmaster in this scene despite his unfortunate expulsion. All of the students stood behind Owen, stripping the headmaster of any power he previously held over the student body, and leaving him defenseless. This passage also demonstrated how well-liked Owen was because of his work writing as ‘The Voice’ and generally rebelling against the school. Even Rev. Mr. Merrill had grown to like Owen, and supported him even though he could lose his job over this act of rebellion. Owen inspired the …show more content…
Until that summer, my long apprenticeship to maturity struck me as arduous and humiliating; Randy White had confiscated my fake draft card, and I wasn't yet old enough to buy beer-I wasn't independent enough to merit my own place to live, I wasn't earning enough to afford my own car, and I wasn't something enough to persuade a woman to bestow her sexual favors upon me. Not one woman had I ever persuaded! Until the summer of '62, I thought that childhood and adolescence were a purgatory without apparent end; I thought that youth, in a word,