Grief and Healing in The Stone Boy free essay sample

Grief and Healing in â€Å"The Stone Boy† by Gina Berriault Gina Berriault’s â€Å"The Stone Boy† is an intricate examination of a family coping with tragedy. In a key passage of the story, Arnold hides out in the barn as his family goes to search for Eugene. Arnold’s physical separation from his family is symbolic of the emotional distance that escalates through the story, culminating in the strained relationship illustrated in the resolution of the conflict. This passage is crucial to understanding the theme of the story which is that while grief presents itself in many forms, comfort and understanding are essential elements in the healing process and if these basic human needs are not met, grief will manifest itself as an isolating and divisive factor. Arnold’s separation from his family coincides with his increasing sense of culpability revealing the destructive impact of managing one’s grief in isolation. When Arnold’s family discover Eugene’s body, the narrator states that â€Å"sounds sharp as knives were rising from his [Arnold’s] mother’s breast† (387). When Arnold hears the uproar, the narrator describes Arnold as laying â€Å"still as a fugitive† (387). The anguish that Arnold’s mother displays is expressed through the use of a powerful metaphor, describing her screams as â€Å"sharp as knives†, which greatly contrasts Arnold’s response to the tragedy: withdrawal and isolation. A â€Å"mother’s breast† is normally associated with ideas of nurture and comfort, but in this case Arnold cannot seek solace in his mother’s bosom as it is representative of a mother’s heartbreaking loss. Arnold does not vocalise his pain but instead elects to remain in solitude. The conflicting methods of grieving creates a barrier between Arnold and his family as evidenced by Arnold’s decision to lie â€Å"still as a fugitive† rather than rush down to his mother’s side. The narrator’s use of the term â€Å"fugitive† suggests that Arnold feels guilty for what has transpired and is fleeing the judgement of his family. It is commonly accepted that fugitives are criminals living outside of normal communities and Arnold has relegated himself to that lonely status. Arnold’s decision to remain in isolation if his parents neglect to reach out to him suggests that recognition is crucial to the healing process. When Arnold begins to worry that his parents would not call on him, the narrator states that Arnold vows to â€Å"stay up in the loft forever† (387). Arnold’s fear that his parents would not search for him show his desire to be comforted and recognised by his family. However, Arnold does not overtly reach out for comfort on his own, suggesting that the effort must be made from a member of his family. Arnold’s integration into the family is dependent on his parents’ actions, revealed in the ultimatum he reaches. In the absence of such a gesture, Arnold’s isolation causes him to think irrationally by believing he could live in the loft â€Å"forever†. Arnold’s resolve to remain in the loft suggests that he is unable to cope with his grief in an effective manner and only the support of his family would reverse the harsh prospects he imagines. Although Arnold is the one who initiated the physical separation from his family, his need to be called down shows that recognition is essential for him to be able to reunite with his family. In the resolution of the conflict, Arnold’s parents’ acknowledgement of him is initially comforting to Arnold, but then he quickly reverts back to his solitary behaviour, suggesting that the understanding he needed was offered too late and the isolation he experienced has created a divisive force in his household. Arnold’s parents make efforts to reach out to Arnold, such as Arnold’s father sharing the milk pitcher at the breakfast table (394) and Arnold’s mother asking if Arnold had come to her door in the night (395). In response to his parents’ efforts the narrator states that Arnold â€Å"called upon his pride to protect him from them† (395). Arnold lies to his mother regarding the reason he came to her door, and his lie leaves â€Å"his legs trembling from the fright his answer game him† (395). The relief that Arnold experiences when his father extends him the milk pitcher, a symbol of sharing employed by the narrator, strongly suggests that the need for consolation is instrumental in assisting the healing process. However, when Arnold wilfully resists his parents’ attempts to reach out to him and he feels he must â€Å"protect [himself] from them† it is clear that the efforts came too late. Arnold’s emotional distance from his family is subtly shown in the narrator’s use of the objective pronoun â€Å"them† to refer to Arnold’s parents, versus the possessive pronoun, ‘his’. Arnold opts to lie to his mother rather than confess his vulnerability revealing a break in his ties with his family. The fear that this lie instils in Arnold shows that Arnold recognises that the relationship with his family has been irreparably damaged. â€Å"The Stone Boy† portrays a family unable to recognise a son’s abnormal behaviour as a valid reaction to a traumatic event. The story effectively argues that the need for understanding must be met in order to heal, and without that recognition the severity of the grief will only intensify. This analysis does not address the idea of maturation through death and rebirth. Further examination could explore the idea that the death of Eugene instigates a metaphorical death of Arnold’s childhood innocence and Arnold assuming Eugene’s role in the family is representative of rebirth. Works Cited Berriault, Gina. â€Å"The Stone Boy. † 1957. Points of View: An Anthology of Short Stories. rev. ed. Ed. James Moffett and Kenneth R. McElheny. New York: Penguin, 1995. 383-395.