Dr. Dolder Character Analysis in A Prayer for Owen Meany

The school psychiatrist at Gravesend Academy, Dr. Dolder is an elderly Swiss man. He attributes John’s difficulties in school to his childhood trauma rather than his learning disabilities. After hearing about Owen’s insulting proposition to Mitzy Lish and his earlier role in the accidental death of Tabitha, Dr. Dolder concludes that Owen is obsessed with older women. Whenever he has too much to drink, he leaves his car blocking Owen’s parking spot at school, prompting Owen to pull a grand prank one morning, having the strong basketball players lift the car and deposit it on the stage of the auditorium.

Dr. Dolder Character Timeline in A Prayer for Owen Meany

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

The school psychiatrist, Dr. Dolder , believes that John’s studies are hampered by his past and ongoing psychological traumas, no... (full context)

...for them to expel him for what he says. The school makes him go to Dr. Dolder . (full context)

Owen would say that about his bi-weekly sessions with Dr. Dolder —“MADE FOR TELEVISION.” He wouldn’t tell John what really happened in the sessions, however. He... (full context)

The car in the driveway is Dr. Dolder ’s Volkswagen Beetle, which he leaves parked outside the Main Academy Building overnight whenever he’s... (full context)