A Prayer for Owen Meany
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9
Themes
All Themes Fate and Predestination Christianity and Faith Gender and Sexuality Powerlessness
Quotes
Characters
All Characters John Wheelwright Owen Meany John’s Mother / Tabitha Wheelwright Rev. Lewis Merrill John’s Stepfather / Dan Needham Dick Jarvits John’s Grandmother / Harriet Wheelwright Hester Eastman Mr. Meany Mrs. Meany Randolph “Randy” White Dr. Dolder Noah Eastman Simon Eastman Martha Eastman Alfred Eastman Mr. Chickering Lydia Rev. Dudley Wiggin Barb Wiggin Harold Crosby Mary Beth Baird Buzzy Thurston Harry Hoyt Mrs. Hoyt Mr. Morrison Mr. Early Canon Mackie Amanda and Arthur Dowling Archibald Thorndike Larry Lish Mitzy Lish Father Findley Canon Campbell Major Rawls
Symbols
All Symbols The Baseball Armless Totems The Voice Weightlessness
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A Prayer for Owen Meany

by

John Irving
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Barb Wiggin Character Analysis

A red-headed former stewardess, Barb is brash like her husband, Rev. Dudley Wiggin. She enjoys picking up Owen Meany, who hates her. He antagonizes her by seizing control of her Christmas pageant, and she gets her revenge by manhandling him and giving him an erection right before the curtain goes up. As a former stewardess, Barb likes to run a tight ship, and Owen’s meddling infuriates her.

Barb Wiggin Quotes in A Prayer for Owen Meany

The A Prayer for Owen Meany quotes below are all either spoken by Barb Wiggin or refer to Barb Wiggin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Fate and Predestination Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

Barb Wiggin looked at Owen as if she were revising her opinion of how “cute” he was, and the rector observed Owen with a detachment that was wholly out of character for an ex-pilot. The Rev. Mr. Wiggin, such a veteran of Christmas pageants, looked at Owen Meany with profound respect—as if he’d seen the Christ Child come and go, but never before had he encountered a little Lord Jesus who was so perfect for the part.

Related Characters: John Wheelwright (speaker), Owen Meany, Rev. Dudley Wiggin, Barb Wiggin
Christianity and Faith Theme Icon
Powerlessness Theme Icon
Page Number: 169
Explanation and Analysis:
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Barb Wiggin Quotes in A Prayer for Owen Meany

The A Prayer for Owen Meany quotes below are all either spoken by Barb Wiggin or refer to Barb Wiggin. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Fate and Predestination Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

Barb Wiggin looked at Owen as if she were revising her opinion of how “cute” he was, and the rector observed Owen with a detachment that was wholly out of character for an ex-pilot. The Rev. Mr. Wiggin, such a veteran of Christmas pageants, looked at Owen Meany with profound respect—as if he’d seen the Christ Child come and go, but never before had he encountered a little Lord Jesus who was so perfect for the part.

Related Characters: John Wheelwright (speaker), Owen Meany, Rev. Dudley Wiggin, Barb Wiggin
Christianity and Faith Theme Icon
Powerlessness Theme Icon
Page Number: 169
Explanation and Analysis:
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