Death is a dark event that can influence anyone forever, as shown in A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Although these influences generally have a negative connotation, death in this book has a more positive impact on the narrator's life. Owen's death results in John's spiritual reconciliation by turning to a Christian faith. The sacrificial aspect of his death develops the message that the fragility of life reveals one's deepest beliefs. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Owen's death was a premeditated sacrifice made to save the lives of the Vietnamese children and John. Dick Jartvis, a mentally ill teenager, walks into a bathroom filled with Vietnamese children, as well as John and Owen, and throws a grenade at John. John then passes it to Owen and lifts him up, causing Owen to throw the grenade into the windowsill, sacrificing himself for everyone in the bathroom. Owen already knew of her death because of the "dream", which is a vision he frequently had of her death; he wrote in his diary: “I know when I am going to die – and now a dream has shown me how I am going to die. I’m going to be a hero.” John read this entry and thought that "the certainty of his beliefs was always a little scary" because John didn't believe in God before, so he didn't understand how Owen could be so sure of his beliefs. Owen was a man of faith; everything he did was because he knew that God would help him through this ordeal. Owen's certainty prompts John to spiritually reconsider his beliefs, as he understands that it was God who gave him the message of his death. John begins to believe in God because he knew that something as fragile as life could not be in the hands of anyone other than a higher power. Another prediction that Owen communicates thanks to God was the maneuver he and John had to use to get rid of the grenade, called "The Shot". Owen creates a move where John would dribble a basketball, he would pass it to Owen , then he would lift Owen up to dunk the ball. John and Owen practice this shot regularly until they do it in less than three seconds, because according to Owen, "Faith takes practice" to make the shot. in time Their practice becomes the perfect time to save everyone in the bathroom. Owen's ability to predict destiny and the future is what shows his connection to God, since Owen considers himself "l. 'instrument of God' by saving others in God's place John realizes this connection since Owen willingly sacrifices his own life because of his faith in God, then John begins to understand how a higher power must exist for Owen. performs this miracle. John observes Owen's sacrifice with his own eyes, thus contributing to his reconsideration of beliefs. John is a very logical and doubtful character who needs proof to believe anything, which is why he has always doubted his belief in God. He “became quite vague in his religion” as a teenager but that quickly changed. John needs practical experience with the fragility of life in order to truly understand that miracles don't always need to be explained, but that God is the one who creates them. Owen once said, "You can't prove a miracle" and it took a true life or death experience for John to understand that. The only proof of a miracle according to Owen is God, whom John believes in after Owen's sacrifice. This realization of John contributes to the development of his character in the.