Amputation

A major motif in the novel is that of amputation. The first example of amputation is Lydia, the former housekeeper of Harriet Wheelwright, who had her legs amputated. The next instance is when Owen removes the claws from the coveted stuffed armadillo, in a response to his murder of Tabby, John's mom. Later in the story, when John is desperately seeking to avoid being drafted into Vietnam, Owen removes one of his fingers. In the two major amputations, Owen, who is the instrument of God, is the one who performs the amputations. The final amputation is, however, of Owen himself, when he is killed by the grenade, his arms maimed.

Amputation is a symbol for many things. For one, it represents vulnerability, a major theme as Owen himself is vulnerable throughout his lifetime. It also represents instability. The main instance of this is how the claw-less armadillo is unable to stand quite properly, similar to John's life after the death of his mother. Amputation also is a symbol for loss, a highly prevalent theme, as John loses his mother, and Hester, who he is never able to be with, and ends up growing less fond of. Finally, as Owen is the main one who amputates, and gets amputated, amputation is another way to demonstrate that Owen is an instrument of God.

The abstract image above displays John's separated hand and finger, Owen being maimed by the explosion, Lydia in her wheelchair, and a claw of the armadillo.