The Stone Boy

Tragedy is something that any human has to face in life. During these moments of intense emotion, humans come together in unity, to cope with whatever distress they face. But what happens if one human is left out of the flock, to attend himself when tragedy hits? The text revolves around this theme of neglect, and how a person can become afraid and want to alienate oneself from the ones who should be close to them, if they aren’t cared for when tragedy occurs.

The setting of the story “The Stone Boy” by Gina Berriault is on a farm in the countryside, the place is isolated, which fits into the theme as a symbol for alienation. Arnold lives here with his parents, older brother Eugene and older sister Nora. One day Arnold accidentally shoots and kills Eugene when his rifle gets jammed in a fence wire. Instead of going back to his family straight away, he goes picking peas for an hour. After he has told his parents what happened, he isolates himself in a barn before he’s taken to the police by his dad and uncle. Because he doesn’t run straight back home after the accident, the Sheriff speculates him being a sociopath, which his uncle takes note of. He is overlooked by his family, and rejected when he tries to talk with his mother one the night. It all ends with him leaving the house to retrieve a newborn calf.

The narrator being 3rd person and bound to Arnolds’ point of view is significant in the regard that it tells us how he feels, and what his thoughts are in his situation. His inability to open up about his thoughts, due to his insecurity about what to do, as evidenced when his dad comes home after the Sheriff event by the quotes, “… When he saw his father stomp tiredly into the house, Arnold did not put down his hammer…” p.5 line 165, and “…he would be made conspicuous by his tardiness made him follow his father.” P. 5 line 168, gives us insight into this duality he feels and guidance he needs from a parent about how to act and prove he isn’t a sociopath. He needs his dad and mom to both provide guidance and defend him which they do not.
Another time he tries to prove himself not to be sociopathic, is when visitors come after the supper right after his dad comes home. “If he stayed, he thought, as he always stayed and listened when visitors came, they would see that he was only Arnold and not the person the sheriff thought he was.” He tries to portray himself as he always had, but fails to realize that he needs to change this by communicating his thoughts and talk about his side of the story. He has to actually bother people with himself, if he is to persuade anyone on their beliefs on his seemingly “sociopathic behaviour”. This fails as he overhears his uncle talk with some of the visitors, about his tearless face, which ties into the reason why the title is called the Stone Boy. As a stone has no emotions, like they believe he doesn’t either.
The narrator being bound to him has the consequence for the story that we aren’t knowledgeable of what exactly the other characters think. So while Arnold perhaps thinks that everyone is against him, and he should tread carefully, it might not be so as his dad isn’t neglectful to him on p. 7 line 242 “His father picked up the metal pitcher and set it down at Arnold’s plate.” And might actually be trying to get through to him, where his sister does act neglectful.

As a character Arnold is round, in that he the start of the text is quite joyous and uplifted, while he continuously degrades in emotions. He goes from a human with emotion, to a stone who hides his insecurities behind an emotionless expression. We know that he has his worries, but he doesn’t talk or try to improve upon them by communicating to others.
At the end of the text he compares himself to animals “…-the cattle ate, and the cats; it was customary for everybody to eat.” p.7 line 236-237, perhaps because of how the adults have treated him. He wants to be as little as a burden he can possible be, because he feels an enormous guilt and responsibility for the death of his brother (as evidenced in the encounter with his mother one night). And in this regard wants to become an “animal” to fulfil what his uncle’s, and the majority of the adults he thinks do too, wishes. Because animals don’t have emotions like humans and aren’t humans, he can relate to them, and just work for the humans without being a burden to them in their self absorbed grieving.
Before he compares himself to animals, he tries to regain contact with his mom and in addition to that, his family, when knocking on her bedroom door, expecting forgiveness and ready to talk about his problems, he faces rejection instead “Go back! Is night when you get afraid.” p. 7 line 227. In the quote “Arnold suddenly became aware he was naked.” p. 7 line 229-230 symbolically by his nakedness, it is shown that he is at his utmost vulnerable human state and if rejected now, which he does, he will become stripped of his humanity, and in regards become an animal if not cared for by his mother. This is the point where he unconsciously transcends into an animal. By the vow he makes “never to ask them anything” p. 7 line 235, he in a way vows to become distant and kind of do a vicious circle, neglect me I neglect you. This isn’t healthy as if you don’t ask anyone anything, and don’t talk about your problems, you won’t overcome them.

The adults single out a cause of effect, as in them needing someone to put the blame upon. The neglect that they give Arnold turns him into the “too reasonable” cold person that they want him to be to fit in with their idea of why it happened. This is evidenced with the final quote “I didn’t want nothing,” he said flatly”, as a response about the night where he tried to gain forgiveness from his mother and get in touch with his humanity again. At this point though it is too late for him, the damage is done even though his mother tries to embrace him (perhaps having thought of how hard she sounded in the night) he has turned to an animal. The newborn calf symbolically being him reborn as an animal, but also a wish for the care he lacks, as he states “He could switch the cow down the mountain slowly, and the calf would run along at its mother’s side.” P. 8 line 252-253. So even though you are in pain as a parent or adult, you should not put your own grief above both others, especially your child’s.

The message the author tried to convey is twofold. On one hand you should not as a person, young or adult, single out a perpetrator for a tragedy, even if that person doesn’t defend itself, there can be more complex situations at play, for example how Arnold grieves. On the other hand though, you as a victim of neglect cannot allow yourself to become too prideful, to not recognize the need you have as a person to be cared for, when people reach out to you. As Arnold unfortunately allows himself to. The victim may not be faultless and even though you try to get out of the way, you might just get in the way by acting passively.