The Drowning of Stephan Jones
In 16 year old Carla Wayland's attempt to attract Andy Harris, she is pulled into a web of hatred and persecution that challenges
her own liberal upbringing. Driven only by the infatuation of Andy Harris and her desire to be popular, Carla ends up
at the center of a tragic incident involving a local homosexual couple.
Stephen Jones is a gay man who lives in a small town in Arkansas with his partner Frank Montgomery. Greene
portrays the two gay men as stereotypically kind, peaceful and committed. Stephan Jones unfairly becomes the target
of Andy Harris after an altercation in the local hardware store owned by Andy's father. Andy sends hate mail,
is verbally abusive, engages in prank phonecalls and vandalism, and ultimately is responsible for the drowning of Stephan.
Carla's character is believable and likeable, torn between doing the right thing and being popular. Andy's character
espouses Biblical truths while using hatred as his main mode of operation, which was ultimatley taught in his own family -
by his father.
Greene's narration is well written and tight, with realistic dialog and characters. There is a heavy amount of
stereotyping, however, from fundamental Christians to gays to liberals, to small town inhabitants to attorneys. The stereotyping
is so prevalent, that it could be the author's intention to make an extreme version of the truth, in order to make her point
stronger.
The most unsatisfying aspect of the book is the treatment of Stephan's death. It is as though it barely happened,
with no outrage - or even sympathy - from the community. While it isn't impossible for it to happen in such a small
community, it does have elements that seem unrealistic. According to Richmond, "Greene has addressed volatile issues,
albiet somewhat unrealistically" (1991). The outright hate of the local minister and the church towards Stephan and
Frank seem the most offensive, particularly the scenes of cheering for Andy after his sentencing was announced.
Ultimately the story is gripping and well worth the read. Parts of it seem a bit contrived or too set up, though
if you view the novel as an extreme case of bigotry and hatred, its message works.
Greene, Bette. The Drowning of Stephan Jones. New York: Bantam Books, 1991.
