Harold Crosby Character Analysis in A Prayer for Owen Meany

A Sunday school classmate of John Wheelwright and Owen Meany’s, Harold Crosby is a quiet, overweight boy who is unwillingly cast as the airborne Announcing Angel in the Christmas Pageant, despite being afraid of heights. He forgets his lines and throws up all over himself after Barb Wiggin leaves him hanging suspended in the air after the show. He later escapes the military draft by acquiring a deferment for psychological reasons.

Harold Crosby Character Timeline in A Prayer for Owen Meany

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

...long time in the dark above the stage and memorize a long speech. Poor overweight Harold Crosby falls over in his chair from dread, which Rev. Wiggin mistakes for eagerness to... (full context)

Harold continues to dread his role as Announcing Angel; scared of heights, he can’t concentrate and... (full context)

...his composure and controls his erection. As Barb mans the controls that raise and lower Harold the angel above the stage, Owen gives her such a withering glare that she freezes.... (full context)

...will shun the Episcopalians as he has shunned the Catholics. Mr. Fish suddenly observes that Harold is still hanging in the stage’s rafters. Dan uses his theatrical expertise to lower Harold... (full context)

...doesn’t want to have to tell the Vestry members the story of how she left Harold hanging twenty feet about a concrete floor. He tells her that she will not give... (full context)

...Noah is still abroad with the Peace Corps and Hester is nowhere to be found. Harold Crosby is sitting across the aisle from John. John recalls hearing that Harold was coached... (full context)