Rev. Dudley Wiggin Character Analysis in A Prayer for Owen Meany

An ex-pilot who became an Episcopalian clergyman, Dudley Wiggin is the rector of Christ Church. He flew a bomber plane in World War II and later believes that God supports America in the Vietnam War. John Wheelwright finds him rather crass compared to Rev. Lewis Merrill, and Dan Needham calls him “Captain Wiggin” for his brash pilot’s manner. Owen Meany is able to manipulate Wiggin into going along with all of his ideas for the church’s Christmas pageant.

Rev. Dudley Wiggin Quotes in A Prayer for Owen Meany

The A Prayer for Owen Meany quotes below are all either spoken by Rev. Dudley Wiggin or refer to Rev. Dudley 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:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Harper Collins edition of A Prayer for Owen Meany published in 1989.

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: (speaker), , ,

Page Number and Citation: 169

Explanation and Analysis:

Rev. Dudley Wiggin Character Timeline in A Prayer for Owen Meany

The timeline below shows where the character Rev. Dudley Wiggin appears in A Prayer for Owen Meany. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Episcopal Church. Rev. Lewis Merrill was the pastor of the Congregational Church, while Rev. Dudley Wiggin was the rector of the Episcopal Church. Wiggin was a former airline pilot, forced to... (full context)

Wiggin had a pilot’s cocky confidence and lack of doubt in his preaching, while Merrill was... (full context)

Wiggin was comparatively robust and healthy, with a tendency to smirk. He was a bomber pilot... (full context)

...throughout the whole funeral, suspecting him of possessing the ball. Just like at the wedding, Wiggin and Merrill shared the service. When it came time for the ending hymn, a song... (full context)

Barb Wiggin is quite angry that Owen is upending all of her plans for the pageant. He... (full context)

...they do in class. Barb reevaluates how “cute” she used to find Owen, while Rev. Wiggin appears to recognize in the masterful Owen “a little Lord Jesus.” (full context)

...Meany and Mrs. Meany asked that he be buried in Gravesend rather than Arlington. Rev. Wiggin, a supporter of the war, wanted to hold the funeral in his church, but John... (full context)