The poem starts by describing the boy as a young child who is fascinated with guns. He spends his time reading about them and playing with them despite his mother's concern for his safety. Despite his mother's concerns, the boy continues to exhibit an infatuation with weapons and violence.
The poem depicts a troubling cycle where the father’s influence on his son perpetuates a culture of violence. Yet a glimmer of hope emerges as the poem’s final lines imply that the boy’s mother might help him break free from this cycle.
The poem's title, "Arms and the Boy", alludes to Virgil's epic poem "The Aeneid", which focuses on themes of war, violence, and heroism. The poem thus highlights the potentially destructive consequences of glorifying warfare and violence.