Point of View

"The Stone Boy" is told from a third-person, limited point of view; everything is filtered through Arnold's eyes and senses, and only his thoughts are shared. Readers can understand other characters' feelings only through their words and actions, but are privy to Arnold's innermost feelings. Early in the story, such use of point of view makes clear Arnold's love/hate relationship with his brother. Although Arnold is in awe of his brother, the author uses such terms as stupidly and mocking to describe Eugie, all of which explain Arnold's complex feelings toward Eugie. After Eugie's death, however, Arnold is so distant from his own emotions that in actuality, the reader learns very little about what Arnold thinks about Eugie's death and his role in it. Arnold does reveal, toward the end of the story, that he felt terror as he knelt beside his brother and that...