A moron or a fool
According to the sheriff, Arnold is “either a moron or he’s so reasonable that he’s way ahead of us.” Then he snorts and continues, “it’s come to my notice that the most reasonable guys are mean ones. They don’t feel nothing.” The irony is that if there is anybody stupid, it is Arnold’s parent, Uncle Andy and the sheriff himself. They fail to recognize the signs of shock, not to mention, that Arnold’s father allows a little boy to have a rifle.
Bloodthirst
As soon as the questioning finished, Uncle Andy asks whether they want Arnold. “Not now,” replied the sheriff, “maybe in a few years.” Arnold’s father chimed in, “the gun ain’t his no more”. The irony of this situation is that the child shouldn’t be in possession of the gun in the first place. It is entirely his parent’s fault, but they act as if Arnold is a little bloodthirsty monster.
Nothing
Arnold went to his mother “to tell her about the terror he had felt when he had knelt beside Eugene”, but she refused to listen to him. Ironically enough, when she made up her mind to hear him out, he had “nothing” to say. The fear for rejection sealed his mouth.
