Harriet Wheelwright in A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Harriet Wheelwright, a direct descendant of the town’s prominent founder, is not a typical sweet, old grandmother. He doesn‘t dance around the truth when recounting his story. Showing a complete lack of empathy, Johnny recounts “I remember that it was shortly after Lydia’s leg had been amputated because it was still a little strange to have her eating with us at the table (in her wheelchair), and to have the two new maids doing the serving and clearing that only recently Lydia had done.

Unlike her grandson, Harriet does not accept out-of-the-ordinary things as easily; Johnny adds in her perspective “And the wheelchair was still new enough and Lydia‘s presence at the dinner table was new as fresh paint”. Irving employs the use of a simile to demonstrate the level of ignorance towards the disabled during the 19505 and 60s Comparing Lydia in a wheelchair to fresh paint gives her a negative connotation.

Fresh paint is wet paint, and although new colors brings change, it is quite frankly something of an inconvenience, just like how Lydia in her wheelchair is perceived Through the use of simile in this novel, Irving emphasizes the severe lack of empathy and compassion towards those who are not completely normal or able, Older generations are less likely to be as accepting as kids, and often give off a harsh vibe without even meaning to; only because they were raised in this mentality, Johnny points out the level of awkwardness that comes with a member of the able-bodied community suddenly being trapped in the confines of a wheelchair Like fresh paint, these sudden changes take time to “dry out”: the process of normalizing the marginal will eventually become common.

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This simile indicates the social norms of the given time period of this book, which Irving clearly took into consideration after living through them. The negative influence that Harriet shows to her grandson should theoretically rub off on him Johnny’s friendship with. Owen Meany demonstrates his unwillingness to succumb to the norms set by his grandmother‘s generation. Johnny does not let other people influence his thoughts and beliefs because he sees the inherent good in everyone and accepts them for their flaws.