A Prayer for Owen Meany

by

John Irving

Mr. Early Character Analysis

Maureen Early’s father. An English teacher at Gravesend Academy who is also the school newspaper advisor under Headmaster Archibald Thorndike. He tries to defend Owen Meany’s bold editorials in the paper, but is mostly useless. He is also involved in the town theater, although he is a poor actor who tends to act as if every role he plays is deeply tragic. He plays Marley’s Ghost in A Christmas Carol.
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Mr. Early Character Timeline in A Prayer for Owen Meany

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Early appears in A Prayer for Owen Meany. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4: The Little Lord Jesus 
Fate and Predestination Theme Icon
Christianity and Faith Theme Icon
...who screamed when he saw Owen’s face under the ghostly hood. Dan even heard that Mr. Early ’s daughter wet her pants. Mr. Fish comes by the house after dinner, and they... (full context)
Chapter 6: The Voice 
Powerlessness Theme Icon
...Voice. Several of the faculty object to this, but the faculty adviser to The Grave, Mr. Early , supports Owen. The current headmaster, Archibald Thorndike, also supports Owen, calling him “a delightful... (full context)
Fate and Predestination Theme Icon
Gender and Sexuality Theme Icon
Powerlessness Theme Icon
...it very carefully. Then he remembers that he and Owen first read the book in Mr. Early ’s tenth grade class, when the book shouldn’t have been assigned to them so young.... (full context)
Fate and Predestination Theme Icon
Powerlessness Theme Icon
...excluded black and Jewish students. He tried to say all this in a column, but Mr. Early cut it for its potential for libel. Dan suggested he try to find proof of... (full context)
Fate and Predestination Theme Icon
Christianity and Faith Theme Icon
Powerlessness Theme Icon
...begins to talk back to The Voice during the morning assemblies, and he personally replaces Mr. Early as the newspaper advisor. Dan and John warn Owen to be careful. (full context)
Chapter 7: The Dream 
Christianity and Faith Theme Icon
Gender and Sexuality Theme Icon
Powerlessness Theme Icon
...a faculty meeting, White says that such disrespect to school parents cannot be tolerated, but Mr. Early and Dan argue that Owen broke no rules by propositioning Mitzy. White wants Owen expelled,... (full context)