The Stoniness of the Human Heart

The novel explores the idea that men's hearts are stony, growing what they can and tending it, often with tragic results.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Pascow's Words

A Dying Prophecy The Soil of a Man's Heart Victor Pascow says, "The soil of a man's heart is stonier... A man grows what he can and tends it." This becomes a central theme. Interpretation The phrase suggests that men are limited in their emotional capacity. They can only cultivate what their stony hearts allow. Foreshadowing Louis's heart is stony. He cannot accept grief. He tries to grow something unnatural—resurrection—and tends it to destruction.

Louis's Stony Heart

A Man's Limitations Inability to Grieve Louis cannot process grief in a healthy way. He turns to denial and action. His heart is stony. Growing Evil Louis grows a monstrous plan. He tends it with obsession. The result is tragedy. Final Reflection Louis's stony heart leads him to repeat the cycle. He cannot learn from his mistakes. The theme underscores the novel's pessimism.

first day of fall semester, September 1983

throughout the novel