Could Johnny Be the Real Christ figure?

In my previous post, I listed the various characteristics that make Owen seem like a Christ figure. However, upon venturing the early pages of Chapter Eight, I discovered a new notion that might take this story for a spin. Could Johnny possibly be the savior of this story, instead of Owen?

In Chapter 8, "The Finger", the author gives you a more detailed glimpse of Johnny's present-day life. As mentioned in earlier chapters, Johnny grows up to be a teacher at an all-girls' school, and he enjoys entertaining his friends' kids at Loveless Lake, thus exemplifying that Johnny is good with kids.

Another connection dawned upon me after reading Johnny's grocery list on pages 423 to 424. Johnny lists fairly mundane items, until the end: "live bait", which reveals that Johnny liked to fish, just as Jesus did.

Johnny's parents share connections with Jesus' parents. Both Mary and Tabitha were not married when they got pregnant, and they wed after having their sons. And Jesus had an "earth dad", Joseph to take care of his physical needs, since his real father, God, could not fulfill them firsthand. Johnny had an adopted father, Dan Needham, who is like Johnny's Joseph, since Johnny doesn't know who his biological father is.

In class, we analyzed the importance of Owen cutting off Johnny's index finger on his right hand. Johnny was right-handed, so his index finger was his trigger finger; his decision finger. On the surface, it seems like Owen is just trying to keep his friend from going to Vietnam. However, Owen cutting off Johnny's index finger is a symbol; for, as we read in chapter twelve of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, "anything that seems like a symbol, most likely is" (Foster 97). Johnny losing his finger, his decision finger to be more exact, symbolizes indecisiveness. Up to this point in the novel, Johnny has not been making any decisions for himself. Instead, Owen tells him what to do. Going on a wild goose chase in Boston searching for Johnny's real father? Owen. Johnny's finger? Owen. Johnny moving in with Hester? Owen. Hence, Johnny is truly God's instrument, he doesn't decide anything for himself, so it's like his life is planned out for him; and Owen is simply his guide. I predict that Owen will die, and Johnny will realize the reason for his existence.

So, Johnny just might be the Christ figure of A Prayer for Owen Meany. But I believe the honor of the big title of Christ Figure will all come down to one last battle: who shall redeem our unworthy world?