How Owen Meany is Directly Compared to Jesus Christ Throughout the novel “a prayer for Owen Meany,” by John Irving, the main character is portrayed as a very religious martyr. In the Christian faith Jesus Christ is a martyr as well. Although there are many differences between the life of Jesus, as depicted in the bible and Owen Meany, there are many similarities as well, so many in fact, that the reader is forced to ponder if these similarities are intentional. Jesus Christ was a miracle birth: he was born from a virgin. “The virgin will be with child and she will give birth to a son” - Matthew 1:23 To be born from virgin makes the child blessed because