John Irving is a weird guy. I say that with total affection. If you’ve ever sat down with a copy of The World According to Garp, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s a book that smells like old gym mats, salt air, and existential dread. It was published in 1978, but honestly, it feels like it could have been written last week—or maybe a hundred years ago. It’s timeless in that messy, bloody way that real life is.
People usually come to Garp because they heard it’s a "classic." Then they hit the scene where a nurse decides she wants a child but doesn't want a husband, so she takes matters into her own hands with a dying soldier. It's jarring. It's meant to be. This isn't just a story about a writer; it’s a manual on how to survive a world that is "terminally ill," as the book’s protagonist, T.S. Garp, might put it.
The Chaos of Garp’s Origin
Let's talk about Jenny Fields. She is, in many ways, the real engine of the story. In an era where "feminism" was often discussed in polite, academic circles, Jenny was a wrecking ball. She’s a nurse who views sex as a chore and men as, well, mostly unnecessary. Her decision to conceive Garp by "using" a brain-damaged technical sergeant—the eponymous Garp who can only say his own name—is one of the most controversial moments in 20th-century literature. It sets the tone. Life is random. Life is violent. And sometimes, life is funny in a way that makes you feel guilty for laughing.
The book follows T.S. Garp from his childhood at the Steering School—a fictionalized version of Exeter where Irving actually coached wrestling—through his career as a novelist and his eventual, tragic end. But it’s the middle stuff that sticks. The wrestling. The bears. The "Under Toad."
If you’ve never heard of the Under Toad, you’re missing out on the best metaphor for anxiety ever penned. Garp’s young son mistakes the "undertow" at the beach for a literal "Under Toad" that pulls people down. We all have an Under Toad. It’s that lurking feeling that something terrible is about to happen just when things are going well. Irving doesn't just mention the Under Toad; he lets it win occasionally.
Sex, Violence, and the Ellen Jamesians
One of the most intense subplots involves the Ellen Jamesians. These are women who cut out their own tongues in solidarity with a young girl named Ellen James, who was raped and had her tongue cut out by her attackers. Garp finds them grotesque. He sees them as people who have turned a tragedy into a fashion statement of self-mutilation.
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This part of the book is where Irving gets really brave. He explores the friction between radical political movements and individual humanity. He doesn't take the easy way out. He makes you sympathize with the anger of these women while simultaneously showing how their dogma destroys their lives. It’s nuanced. It’s messy. And it’s why the book still gets banned or criticized today.
The 1982 Film vs. The Novel
You’ve probably seen the movie. Robin Williams was incredible as Garp. It was one of his first "serious" roles, and he nailed that mix of boyish wonder and simmering rage. Glenn Close played Jenny Fields, and she was terrifyingly perfect. But here’s the thing: the movie is a postcard. The book is the actual trip.
The film softens the edges. It has to. You can’t put the full intensity of Irving’s prose on a screen without making it an NC-17 fever dream. The book spends dozens of pages on Garp’s short stories—"The Pension Grillparzer" is a masterpiece within a masterpiece—which help us understand Garp’s psyche. In the movie, he’s just a guy who writes. In the book, he’s a guy whose writing is the only thing keeping him from jumping off a bridge.
Why We Are Still Obsessed With "The World According to Garp"
Why does this book keep appearing on "must-read" lists?
Basically, Irving tapped into a universal truth: we are all terrified of losing the people we love. Garp is an obsessive father. He’s the guy who checks the locks three times and worries about every car that drives too fast down his street. In a world that feels increasingly volatile—politically, socially, environmentally—Garp’s paranoia feels like common sense.
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There is also the wrestling. Irving loves wrestling. He sees it as the ultimate metaphor for life. You’re on a mat, someone is trying to pin you, and there’s nowhere to hide. You either have the stamina to stay up, or you don't. Garp is always on the mat. Even when he’s successful, he’s waiting for the next takedown.
Challenging the Status Quo
Irving was writing about trans characters (Roberta Muldoon) and gender fluidity long before it was a mainstream conversation. Roberta, a former NFL player who transitioned, is perhaps the most sane and compassionate person in the entire book. She’s the rock. In 1978, this was revolutionary. Irving wasn't trying to be "woke"—that word didn't even exist in this context then—he was just trying to be honest about the variety of the human experience.
Roberta isn't a punchline. She’s a hero.
The Tragedy of the "Under Toad"
I won’t spoil the ending if you haven't read it, but I will say this: Irving is a Victorian at heart. He believes in the "total novel." This means he follows characters from birth to death. You don't just get a slice of life; you get the whole pie, crust and all.
The violence in the book is sudden. It’s not "movie violence" where there’s a buildup and a soundtrack. It’s the kind of violence that happens because someone turned a corner too fast or didn't see a car coming. It’s heartbreaking because it feels so preventable. That’s the genius of The World According to Garp. It makes you fall in love with these deeply flawed people and then reminds you that the world doesn't care how much you love them.
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Actionable Insights for the Modern Reader
If you're looking to dive into the world of Irving, or if you're revisiting Garp after years away, here’s how to actually get something out of it:
- Read the short stories inside the novel. Don't skip "The Pension Grillparzer." It’s not filler. It’s the key to understanding how Garp views the world—as a place where "provisions" are never quite enough to keep the bears away.
- Watch for the reappearing motifs. Irving uses bears, wrestling, and missing limbs like a composer uses recurring notes. They signify when the narrative is shifting from comedy to tragedy.
- Contextualize Jenny Fields. Read up on the second-wave feminism of the 70s. It makes her "A Sexual Suspect" manifesto much more impactful. She wasn't just a character; she was a response to a specific moment in American history.
- Pay attention to Roberta Muldoon. Notice how Irving treats her transition compared to how other authors of that era might have. It’s a masterclass in empathy.
- Accept the mess. This isn't a "neat" book. It’s long, it meanders, and sometimes it’s frustrating. That’s the point. Garp’s world is messy because our world is messy.
The legacy of T.S. Garp isn't just in the pages of a book. It’s in the way we look at our own lives. We’re all just trying to avoid the Under Toad. We’re all just looking for a safe place to wrestle. And if we’re lucky, we have a Roberta or a Jenny to help us pick up the pieces when things go sideways.
Go buy a physical copy. There’s something about the weight of this book in your hands that makes the story feel more grounded. Read it on a rainy weekend. Let it make you uncomfortable. That’s when you know a book is doing its job.
Next Steps:
To fully appreciate Irving's impact, your next step should be comparing The World According to Garp with his later work, specifically A Prayer for Owen Meany. You'll see how his obsession with fate and "accidental" tragedy evolves from the frantic energy of the 70s into something more spiritual and pointed. If you've only seen the movie, find the 1982 screenplay—it's a fascinating look at how Steve Tesich tried to condense a 600-page behemoth into two hours of cinema.