In this assignment we were assigned to analyze a character within a story of our choosing. A task was to diagnose them with a disorder based on evidence presented. I chose Arnold from “The Stone Boy” by Gina Berriault. He displayed symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

In the short story “The Stone Boy” written by Gina Berriault readers are introduced to Arnold. Throughout the story Arnold expresses behavior of a child with posttraumatic distress order, otherwise known as PTSD. Posttraumatic distress order develops after experiencing a traumatic event, in this case it would be the killing of his elder brother. Symptoms of PTSD among children include difficulty expressing emotions and displaying numbness. Arnold displays both symptoms throughout the article following him executing the murder of his elder brother whom he admired. 

From the beginning of the short story Arnold and Eugie have shown to have a good relationship. Eugie made Arnold happy to the point where he would,”laugh deliriously”(1). Arnold not only had a good relationship with his elder brother but, he admired Eugie,”Arnold never tired of watching Eugie offer silent praise unto himself”(2) . Based on the close relationship shown, for Arnld to lose Eugie one would expect a severe emotional reaction from him from his death. Despite this, Arnold does not seem to display any signs of grief. Arnold is a nine year old child yet his reaction towards his brother’s death fits no spectrum of grief, not even among children.  To grief would mean that Arnold has processed the death and based on his behavior it seems that PTSD has gotten to Arnold before he could do so. Arnold does not immediately notify his family of Eugie’s death. This is the first symptom of PTSD Arnold shows which is numbness, “…not until some time had passed did he realize that the pods were numbing his fingers”(3). Arnold deflected from the fact that his brother died and instead threw his focus into the task he had initially had planned. This would only be deemed a reasonable response if Arnold were showcasing the symptom numbness. Later in the story when questioned why Arnold did not immediately notify his family Arnold showed a second symptom of PTSD, difficulty to express emotion.

Arnold was confronted by a sheriff and was questioned about the events surrounding the murder. Arnold did not seem to show anxiety towards the situation, that being due to the symptom numbness, however he did show difficulty in explaining his emotions. “It seemed odd now that he had not run back to the house and wakened his father, but he could not remember why he had not.”(6), Arnold is unable to explain his reasoning because that is the moment where posttraumatic distress order took over. It is hard to have reasoning behind your actions if you do not understand the emotional motivators behind them. Arnold is not even able to verbally explain the relationship he had with his brother, who he obviously admired. This does not fall under  the symptom  numbness because feelings are present within Arnold they just are not expressed. Another display of this symptom is when Arnold attempted to approach his mother and speak about Eugie’s death. His mother’s response however, threw him deeper down the path of difficulty as she sent him away (9). This caused Arnold to further isolate himself, “He would never again, he vowed, ask them for anything”(9) which is ultimately the way of thinking which was last seen by Arnold in the story. 

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a mental disorder triggered by life altering traumatic events. Arnold at the fragile age of nine years old not only witnessed but executed the murder of his elder brother Eugie. Despite the close relationship Arnold and Eugie had, the behavior shown by Arnold following Eugie’s death is both numb and emotionless. Arnold did not immediately react to his brother’s death. He did not even show a reaction that fits under the spectrum of grief, even among children. In contrast, Arnold had an instant lack of reaction. Thus displaying the symptom of PTSD numbness. Arnold not only disassociated himself from the death of his elder brother but, he could not explain the actions that he did display surrounding the event. Arnold was not able to explain his actions nor provide reasoning for them. This is because Arnold did not have any emotional motivators to justify them.  For Arnold to show the symptoms of numbness and difficulty to express emotions instantly after the traumatic event of killing his beloved brother shows that Arnold can be diagnosed with PTSD.