Owen Meany is a character who commands attention, not only because of his small stature and high-pitched voice, but also because of his blind and eternal faith in God. Yet even with his godly qualities, Owen's attraction to John's mother, Tabitha, and his cousin, Hester, continues to make Owen human, despite his belief that he is an instrument of God. In John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, the similarities between Tabitha and Hester represent Owen's lifelong struggle with temptation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay One of the major 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 feels for Johnny. Owen, although he has two parents, is not as loved as Johnny by his mother. For this reason, Owen constantly needs the attention of Tabitha who mothers him in a way he never was with his own parents. Owen's selfishness towards Tabitha is later manifested when he refuses to part with the mannequin that belonged to him before his death. Likewise, Owen also feels jealousy towards Johnny's relationship with his cousins, whom he frequently visits at Sawyer Depot. This is seen in the lines: “Owen was extremely irritable because of 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 in contrast to his usual purity and almost divine mansion. Aside from being major 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 evidenced by the lines: “Tabby Wheelwright looked like a starlet – lush, fanciful, easy to convince” (38). Owen himself admits to finding Johnny's mother attractive on several occasions. Often compared to a feline, Tabitha is not only beautiful, but also manipulative. Although she never deliberately manipulates others, they seem almost fascinated by her charm. Her subtle ability to control people can be seen in the lines: “She had such a gentle character that it was impossible to stay angry with her. She never seemed as assertive as she was” (15). In a way, Owen accidentally killing her represented his attempt to escape her temptation. However, this is never truly realized due to his lust for Hester later. Like Tabitha, Hester is also very attractive. Even at a young age, Hester seemed to exude a sense of sexuality which earned her the nickname "Hester the Abuser". She contrasts with Owen in that unlike her relentless childish appearance, she appears to be an overly mature girl even as a child. Johnny and Owen find her very attractive and both lust after her. Because she is very aware of the effect she has on men, she is able to manipulate others in a way reminiscent of Tabitha's subtle manipulation. Both women continue to arouse Owen's sexual desires 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 had a child before getting married. The fact that the father turns out to be Reverend Merrill represents an even greater scandal since it is as if Tabitha had seduced..