Owen Meany: The Definition of Moral Ambiguity

Owen has two differing opinions about sex in the novel. As a child Owen heard the Brinkersmiths having sex in their dorm room. After hearing the Brinkersmiths, Owen claims that sex makes people crazy; he is portrayed as being sexually celibate, at least until marriage. This helps prove to the reader that Owen follows the strict Catholic beliefs about sex and condemns it in society. Later on in the novel, Owen has pre-marital relations with his best friend’s cousin, Hester. This goes to prove that Owen’s morally ambiguous character in the novel switches stances, from the innocent child to the sexually explicit roommate of Hester.

Owen’s ambiguity is his respect for his teachers and elders. In the beginning of the book, when Owen gets in trouble for being tossed around the room, he neither blames the other kids, nor does he talk back to the teacher. He accepts his punishment and shows all respect for his teacher. Later when Owen attends Gravestand Academy and is forced to seek psychiatric help from Dr. Dolder, rather than repenting, he goes on to create trouble. He has the basketball team remove Dr. Dolder’s car from the parking lot and move it onto the stage. Once again Owen’s ambiguous characteristics are demonstrated through the contradiction of his sacred ideals. In the beginning when Owen did not do anything wrong in church he responds in a remorseful manner. Yet in another situation he is not apologetic but rather creates more trouble, and is thus kicked out of the Academy. He does not show respect towards either his elders or the rules of the Academy anymore. Owen switches from a respe

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