Owen Meany is a character who attracts attention, not only for his short stature and high-pitched voice, but also for his blind faith and immortal in God. Yet despite his divine qualities, Owen's attraction to John's mother, Tabitha, and cousin, Hester, continue to make Owen human, despite his belief that he is an instrument of God. Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, the similarities between Tabitha and Hester represent Owen's lifelong battle against temptation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the main similarities between Tabitha and Hester is the fact that they are both important parts of John's life. In a way, they represent the underlying jealousy that Owen has for Johnny. Owen, although he has two parents, is not as loved as Johnny by his mother. Because of this, Owen constantly craves Tabitha's attention as she mothered him in a way she never did with her own parents. Owen's selfishness towards Tabitha is seen later when he refuses to part with the mannequin that belonged to her before she died. Likewise, Owen also feels jealous of Johnny's relationship with his cousins, whom he often visits at the Sawyer Depot. This can be seen in the lines: “Owen was extremely irritable about the time I spent with my cousins…I thought he was jealous” (60). Owen and Hester's relationship later continues to leave Johnny isolated, as Owen often spends the night at his apartment rather than with him. Owen's selfishness when it comes to Tabitha and Hester represents a human side to him unlike his usual purity and almost divine manor. Besides being important parts of Johnny's life, the two women are also similar in that they are both very attractive. Tabitha is often described as beautiful, as can be seen in the lines: "Tabby Wheelwright looked like a starlet: lush, extravagant, easy to talk to anything" (38). Owen himself admits that he found Johnny's mother attractive on several occasions. Often compared to a feline, Tabitha is not only beautiful, but also manipulative. Even though he never purposely manipulates other people, they seem almost hypnotized by his charm. Her subtle ability to control people can be seen in the lines: “She had such a sweet nature that it was impossible to stay angry with her. She never seemed as assertive as she was” (15). In a way, Owen accidentally killed her representing his attempt to escape temptation. However, this is never truly achieved due to his lust for Hester later on. Like Tabitha, Hester is also very attractive. Even at a young age, Hester seems to radiate a sense of sexuality which gives her the nickname "Hester the Molester". She contrasts with Owen in that, unlike her relentless childish appearance, she appears to be an overly mature girl even as a child. Both Johnny and Owen find her very attractive and both desire her. Because she is so aware of the effect she has on men, she is able to manipulate others in a way reminiscent of Tabitha's subtle manipulation. The two women continue to bring out sexual desires in Owen throughout his life. Another similarity between Hester and Tabitha is that they are both involved in a scandal. Johnny's mother is often criticized for having a child before getting married. The fact that the father turns out to be Reverend Merrill represents an even greater scandal as it is as if Tabitha has seduced one of God's workers. This can be seen again in the way that even Owen, who thinks of himself as one instrument..