The Stone Boy

1
The Stone Boy

• by
• Gina Berriault

2
Summary

• The Stone Boy begins with two brothers, Eugene
  (eldest) and Arnold (youngest) sleeping in their
  beds. Arnold wakes up and sees that his brother
  Eugene (also called Eugie) is still sleeping in
  the bed. Arnold jumps on Eugie to wake him and
  remind him of his promise to pick peas with him.
  Arnold goes downstairs to get his .22-caliber
  rifle and the bullets because he expects to go
  duck shooting on his way to the garden. Eugene
  finally wakes up, and decides to tell Arnold that
  it is not duck season. The two brothers leave the
  house. On their way to the garden they come
  across the wire fence that separates the
  wheatfield from the marshy pasture around the
  lake. Eugene goes through the fence first, but
  once Arnold goes through the fence his rifle gets
  caught in the wires, as he jerks to free the
  rifle a shot fires from the mouth of the
  .22-caliber rifle. Arnold feels very foolish and
  lifts his face expecting to be made fun of by his
  brother Eugie, but Eugie does not turn around or
  speak. He simply slumps to the ground. Arnold
  sees a spot of blood behind his brothers neck, he
  then tries to wake Eugie up, but once he realized
  it was not working he went to the garden alone
  and picked the peas. Arnold arrives home an hour
  later and tells his parents that Eugene is dead.
  Arnold does not mourn for his brother or show any
  signs of grief or guilt.

3
Characters

• Arnold 9 year old boy who accidentally shoots
  his brother. He feels like he is inferior to his
  older brother Eugene, he looks up to Eugene. He
  is very naïve.
• Eugene The 15 year old young man who is killed
  by his brother. He is very subordinate when it
  comes to waking up in the morning. Eugie likes to
  mock his little brother.
• Nora Eugene and Arnolds sister. She stays close
  to her parents and spends a lot of time in the
  kitchen with her mother. Nora has resentment
  towards Arnold after the death of Eugene.
• Sheriff He is not very sympathetic. He has an
  aggressive personality.
• Mrs. Curwing She takes care of the house, the
  children, and her husband.
• Mr. Curwing Works hard to take care of his
  family. He does not want Arnold to feel left out.
  He is mourning, but he still loves Arnold despite
  everything. (Pass it to Arnold) (pg. 394)
• Uncle Andy Mrs. Curwings brother. He was very
  fond of Eugie because he resembled him.

4
Critical Questions

• 1. What is the significance of the title?
• The title of the story signifies Arnolds
  attitude toward his brother and the familys
  attitudes toward Arnold. Arnold did not mourn or
  look like he was upset about his brothers death.
  The narrator does not reveal to the reader if, in
  fact, Arnold was hurt about the situation. It
  seems as though Arnold has a heart of stone (hard
  and cold). The family treats Arnold like an
  outcast because of his actions. Their hearts are
  also like stone towards the young boy. It also
  had to do with how the body turns to stone after
  it ceases to be alive.
• 2. How is the story told?  Who is the
  narrator?  What perspective is used?  What is the
  tone of the language?  Is the narrator reliable?
• The story is told from a third person,
  limited point of view Arnolds thoughts are the
  only ones that are shared, everything is seen
  through Arnolds mind.
• The narrator is unknown.
• 3. Look closely at the opening and ending.  On
  what does the author and narrator focus?
• At the beginning of the story the author
  focuses mainly on the love/hate relationship that
  Arnold has for his brother because he feels
  inferior to him. The author really tries to focus
  on the relationship that the two brothers have.
  At the end of the story the author focuses on the
  fact that there is no longer a relationship with
  Arnold and anyone in the family. The author
  focuses on the fact that Arnold no longer has his
  brother to look up to so he will try to walk in
  his footsteps. (He goes up to get the cow, it was
  always Eugies job) (pgs. 394-395)

5

• 4. How does the character transform in the
  story? 
• Arnold transforms from a naïve and gay young
  man to a young man who is afraid of his emotions
  and feelings. He does not know how to feel or
  behave because his family is not showing him any
  love or support, they make him feel like he is
  not there, like maybe he, too, is dead.
• 5. What is the major theme of the story? 
  Explicate.  Are there any minor
• themes?
• The major theme of the story is death.
  Eugene dies, physically, at the beginning of the
  story. The family dies emotionally after Arnold
  fatally shoots Eugie. Arnold loses a major part
  of his life, not just his brother, but his male
  role model, hence the young adult that he would
  have become dies with Eugie. His life will now
  take on a new direction. Arnold and his family
  are distant from each other, he speaks about how
  he did all of his chores and stayed away from the
  family all day. (pg. 391) The minor theme is the
  familys attitude toward a young man that they
  are suppose to love. It shows how people can act
  when bad things happen, how they can turn against
  one another in times of mourning and pain.
• 6. Are there any allusions in the story that
  could add meaning to your interpretation? No

6

• 7.What are the symbols or other figurative
  elements in the story?
• In the story it says that Outside
  everything was still. . .as if they moved and
  breathed in the daytime and fallen silent with
  the lateness of the hour. Meaning that Arnolds
  family were happy when everything was going good
  for the family, but as soon as something bad
  happened (darkness fell) they got silent and
  resentful towards Arnold.
• In the story it says that Arnold was
  lying on his back. . .like a baby. . .Eugie was
  sprawled on top of him. Arnold is feeling the
  burden of Eugenes death and, like a baby, he can
  not control his feelings and emotions so he
  mourns the best way he knows how.
• Peas represent unbearable situations.
  (Mother in the kitchen, Eugene dying on their way
  to pick peas)
• The Gun symbolizes death.
• The wire fence symbolizes Arnolds
  struggle to get through a very bad situation.
  (his familys resentment and accepting the loss
  of a brother/role model)
• The morning and the sun symbolize a heavy
  burden and the dawn of more trouble.
• The lantern that Arnolds father is
  carrying represents Mr. Curwings love for
  Arnold. He wants to love and accept his son
  (pass it to Arnold) (pg, 394). His fathers
  love and light is the only light that Arnold can
  see at the moment.
• 8. What seems to be the author's primary
  goal/purpose in writing this short story?
• The Author writes this story to inform the
  reader that people mourn differently and just
  because someone is not mourning externally does
  not mean they do not care or dont give a hoot
  that person is most likely feeling a burden of
  guilt or internal pain. The writer wants the
  reader to understand that turning against family
  in the time of mourning is not healthy for the
  family. It is better to try to understand the
  different ways that people mourn and if a person
  is not crying on the outside, that person may
  need someone to talk to because they have things
  on the inside that they need to let out.

7

• 9. What is your reaction to this story?  How does
  your reaction influence your reading?
• Tiffany The reaction was sadness, and a sense of
  abandonment from the family.
• Brooke My reaction to the story was shock and
  sadness. I do not understand how a family can be
  so cruel to a 9 year old little boy who is
  obviously in need of some special attention. The
  fact that Arnolds family treats him so bitterly
  hurt me more than the death of Eugene. It was an
  accident. The reaction influenced my reading in
  that I was more sympathetic toward Arnold and not
  the family. I felt some anger against the family
  for their actions.