James Hurst's Short Story 'The Scarlet Ibis'

The passage begins with the narrator letting his pride and frustration turn into cruelty, leading him to make a selfish decision in abandoning his disabled brother, leaving him behind. This action established the narrator's inconsiderate and selfish characteristics which created a contrast between him and his brother Doodle. This contrast left a “wall of rain dividing [them].” This foreshadows Doodle’s death, with the storm’s increased intensity throughout the passage, such as when the narrator stated that “the sound of

The storm is used to symbolize Brother’s cruelty towards Doodle. Doodle is born with a membrane surrounding his head, a caul. Because of this, Brother is embarrassed and ashamed of Doodle not being “normal”. Brother so much thought of killing Doodle to remove his problem although he never actually did. Yet one day while Brother is watching Doodle in his crib, he sees Doodle smile and realizes that he does have a brother in there. This inspires Brother to try and teach Doodle how to do basic things any kid his age should be able to do. After having spent a lot of time with Doodle, Brother has an epiphany and realizes he did not do this because of love, he did it because he is embarrassed and ashamed of having a crippled brother. Yet one day while

Because the story is told in first person, the audience experiences the narrators fluctuation from resentment to love through the diction used to show the narrators spite for his brother include "invalid", "unbearable", "kill", and "smothering" which reveal an hostile tone by showing that he is still a young boy who is bewildered about his brother. The Diction in the second paragraph such as "kindest" reveals more of a lighthearted and affectionate tone that shows the narrator has changed into a more devoted brother. Because the author tells the story in first person, the diction used by the narrator - "hopeless", "miracle", "pride", "proud, "wonderful", "terrible", and "life and death" - allows the reader to perceive a reflective tone and that the narrator has attained the knowledge of the benefits and handicaps of pride which can be the burden of life or death. (Page 347). (Page 345). his brother. Diction Example: Heresy The word heresy shows that the narrator has realized the reason Doodle died was because he let his pride triumph his love for his brother. The use of first person point of view allowed the reader to be a part and experience what the reader was going through and his thoughts and actions. When the narrator "threw his body to the Earth above his" the audience felt like

The despondent mood at the beginning of the story, mirrors the loss of innocence of the narrator because he had to face the responsibility and guilt of Doodle’s death.

After Doodle dies, Brother throws his body on top of him crying and “sheltering [his] fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain.” Brother grows up with Doodle, teaches him how to walk, and is proud of how much he has accomplished. Brother even calls Doodle as his, showing possessiveness. Nevertheless, he feels guilty, that he was the reason his brother died. The act of sheltering Doodle also shows his guilt because previously, Brother did not protect him or show his love. Nonetheless, now that he is dead, Brother is protecting Doodle because he had not done so before. Another example where a remorseful tone is present is as Brother is hearing the oriole singing, he feels sorrowful as the song “seems to die up in the leaves.” The tone the author sets is opposite to what emotions are typically felt about a bird singing. Instead of making Brother feel happy, it is the opposite, creating a feeling of sorrow and remorse. Hurst’s word choice contributes to this. The word “die” gives off a negative connotation, seeming as if the happiness of the song is fading away in the leaves of the tree. The elm tree also has a direct relationship with Doodle, and this reminder causes sadness and guilt in Brother. Clearly, the tone is impactful in conveying Brother’s

In the short story "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst shows how pride can come back and become regret pretty fast with imagery of red. First Hurst shows us red imagery in "Trembling had pushed himself up turning red, then a soft purple." And this shows how Doodle is trying to crawl around and move like a baby normally would. He also shows that when you push yourself too much it can be bad, but if you keep doing it you can make everyone proud and it will be easier for yourself. Another way Hurst shows us red imagery "He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained brilliant red." this shows when you push someone to hard or you push yourself to hard it can end up badly. Brother wanted Doodle to be able

When Doodle was born he is immediately a disappointment to Brother. Brother wanted someone to race with, box with, and someone to perch with in the tree behind the farm. Doodle cannot do these things, so Brother plans to kill him. Brother states, “It was bad enough having an invalid brother: …so I began to make plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow” (Hurst 169). With Doodle being a little older and still unable to walk, Brother pulls Doodle everywhere in a go-cart. One day Brother decides to take Doodle up into their loft and show him the casket father had made for him. Doodle studies the box, not believing it is his, and refuses to touch it. “Then I’ll leave you here by yourself”, Brother threatens Doodle, knowing he is afraid of being left alone (Hurst 172). Once Doodle could walk, he and Brother decides to go to Horsehead Landing. As Brother is teaching Doodle more things, a storm heads their way. Doodle is tired and Brother is upset, knowing Doodle failed, the boys head on home. While walking home, Doodle struggles to keep up with Brother but manages. Noticing how Doodle follows his every move, Brother decides to walk faster and eventually he is running. Leaving Doodle behind in the storm, Brother only assumes Doodle is behind him. “I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind with a wall of rain dividing us” (Hurst 176) Brother informs readers. Brother no longer

“Nothing hurts more than trying your absolute best and still not being good enough.” -r.t Everyone in our society wants to be accepted into this world so they try and try until they think they are good enough but sometimes it still isn’t enough, like with Doodle in the Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst. Doodle was born into the world expecting to be a normal child but turning out to have disabilities. His whole family never really accepted him because of his differences. His brother would try to teach Doodle everything he would need to be to become a normal person, but only for himself, which hurt Brother in the long run when selfishness and rejection become him. Some people may say that James Hurst views difference

The story by James Hurst, “The Scarlet Ibis”, creates a theme that is identified in many parts of the story. From the beginning to the end, it can be proposed that character, irony, symbolism are the main supporting elements for the theme. In “The Scarlet Ibis” James Hurst uses character, irony, and symbolism to reveal his theme: Conflict between love and pride.

James Hurst’s short story The Scarlet Ibis, is about two brothers, Doodle and the narrator (which he is referred to as Brother). When Doodle was born, he was different than other babies. He had a disability which people came to mind that he wasn’t going to survive for long, so they didn’t expect much from him. So since Brother didn’t want a little brother who had a disability he pushes him to be someone he can never be. In the story, James Hurst explains his use of symbolism on how the scarlet ibis relates to Doodle.

Not only does it show love and happiness, it reveals signs of trust/faith in each other because the narrator reached for Doodle, instead of leaving him. Through specific feature, figurative language and generating a certain atmosphere, the author effectively displays the brother’s

Brother was usually only thrilled when Doodle was pushing his maximum and exhausting himself to the point where he could work no longer. Doodle was happy to make new progress but he was in no hurry to rush to the next activity. In fact, Brother started teaching Doodle how to walk in the beginning because he was embarrassed to pull Doodle around in the cart everywhere he went.(Hurst 466) Doodle required constant attention when going places and someone needed to pull him around. Brother was most likely going to be the one to pull Doodle and take him wherever he needed to go. Brother taught Doodle so he would not have to pull the cart around anymore. The summer program for Doodle to improve his mobility was almost done by the time the thunderstorm reached Doodle and Brother. Brother abandoned Doodle in the thunderstorm to save himself. After the storm had gone past, Brother went back for Doodle and found Doodle was helpless and dead. The moment Brother saw Doodle lifeless he felt instant regret for pushing him so hard. Guilt was in Brother's conscience when he held Doodle’s dead body in his hands. Brother could not help but feel responsible for what had happened to Doodle, he blamed the whole incident on himself. Brother was left with the feeling of guilt after he realized how he had been mistreating his brother

In James Hurst's short story "The Scarlet Ibis", Hurst utilizes bird imagery to foreshadow Doodle's death; Brothers pride takes over and he leaves Doodle to die. The Scarlet Ibis is a short story weaving the tragic tale of Doodle, a disabled child and his brother, the narrator. One goal the brothers have is to make Doodle like a regular kid, but sadly, that is not the case. Doodle’s older brother is cruel to him by forcing him to do tasks that he is unable to do, much like how Hurst uses the hurt bird to foreshadow Doodle’s death.

“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst is a story about two brothers, one who had physical and mental disabilities and wasn’t able to do most things that other kids his age could do. Brother would constantly try to make Doodle “normal” by forcing him to do things that he wasn’t supposed to be doing, all because he didn’t want to have a brother who was different. One night during a hurricane Brother and Doodle were running home and Doodle couldn’t catch up so he ended up getting left behind and shortly died. Brother is responsible for Doodle’s death because in the story he admits that he tried killing Doodle before, and he was always rude to him.

To start, one way the theme the decisions people make can change who they are later on is shown in the story is through conflict. At breakfast one day, Doodle shows his family that he can walk by himself with no help, and everyone starts to cry and runs to hug Doodle. But when everyone wants to hug Doodle’s brother for what he has done to help Doodle, he starts to cry as well. “Doodle’s brother thinks to himself, ‘Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother.’”(Hurst 3). This quote shows that Doodle's brother is feeling internally conflicted in his reasons for helping Doodle, and wondering if doing it for his own sake was the best reason