James Hurst's The Scarlet Ibis: Bird Imagery

Hurst again uses bird symbols in the story when he vividly describes, “The bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated, and amid much flapping and a spray of flying feathers, it tumbled down, bumping through the limbs of the bleeding tree and landing at our feet with a thud.” (Hurst 5). While telling the story of the ibis, Hurst is simultaneously describing Doodle’s demise. Right before Doodle dies, he is attempting to catch up to his brother in the thunderstorm. Even though Doodle tries hard to catch up to his brother, much like the bird who is attempting to fly, Doodle’s physical shortcomings cause him to fail. Hurst then directly relates Doodle’s death to a bird when he is describing Doodle’s death. Doodle’s brother recounts, “I screamed above the pounding storm and threw my body to the earth above his. For a long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain.” (Hurst 6). Hurst related Doodle’s dead body to the dead ibis from earlier in the story. This metaphor seems to help his brother come to terms with what has happened. Although he had been cruel to him by running ahead of him, he is comforting Doodle now that he is dead. The many bird symbols throughout The Scarlet Ibis help to further support the theme of death in the

Examples of symbolism in this short story are created by the author that help frame the plot. For instance, in the beginning when the brother is describing Doodle, the brother talks about his physical appearance when he was younger, the author relays with the reader “He seemed all head, with a tiny body which was red and shriveled like an old man's” (1). Doodle’s body was red when he was first born and at the time of his death, he was also covered in red blood. Accordingly, since Doodle was red at his time of birth it develops the resolution more because it relates to Doodle’s red death. It also makes the time of his death more descriptive to intrigue the reader more into the plot. This shows symbolism because red is a color that typically represents death. This corresponds with Doodle and his red body at his birth and at his death. Moreover, the author relates the scarlet ibis to Doodle in more ways than one, the author shares with the reader, “At that moment the bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated, and amid much flapping and a spray of flying feathers, it tumbled down, bumping through the limbs of the bleeding tree and landing at our feet with a thud” (9). The scarlet ibis was a red bird that Doodle was fond of and it died right in front of him. The bird was a symbol of Doodle because of how it was red and how that correlated to Doodle’s birth and death. It shows the reader how the bird was out of place and how that relates to Doodle because of his disorders that cause him from being like a normal person. In summary, those were some examples of how the author placed symbolism into the story to strengthen the plot.

“The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst is a realistic fiction about these two brothers, Doodle, and Doodle’s brother who was the narrator of the story, many symbols are used. A symbol is a materialistic object being put in place for an abstract or complex emotion, or idea. For example the emojis you use when texting are symbols you use to express how you are feeling. In this story, Doodle is being symbolized by the Scarlet Ibis, the Scarlet Ibis is a bird and a symbol for Doodle because of their many similarities. An example of the Scarlet Ibis symbolizing Doodle is when Hurst describes the physical health of Doodle and the Ibis. He describes Doodle as being very sick and weak at the beginning of the story by saying “He seemed all head, with a tiny body which was red and shriveled like an old man's. Everybody thought he was going to die-everybody except Aunt Nicey….” (Hurst page 1). Later on in the story when the Scarlet Ibis is introduced, Doodle’s father describes the bird as: “It looks tired, or maybe sick”(Hurst page 5). By giving Doodle and the Scarlet Ibis such similar physical features, it insinuates that whatever happens to the Scarlet Ibis will more than likely happen to Doodle. Another example of the Scarlet Ibis being a symbol for Doodle is when the Scarlet Ibis dies.” At that moment the bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated, and amid much flapping and a spray of flying feathers, it tumbled down, bumping through the limbs of the bleeding tree and

Specifically when he writes, “I grabbed him in my arms and hugged him, our laughter pealing through the swamp like a ringing bell.” Doodle really needs his brother and sometimes I do not think he notices, but when the brother ran to hug him and laugh with him, he was filled with joy. The author also added some personification, he was comparing the boys laughter to a ringing bell to show just how great that moment was to both of the boys. Even during the challenges he was able to create happiness, “Doodle and I prodding each other and giggling, went back into the house, knowing that everything would be okay.” Doodle was able to change the mood of the other characters in this moment in the story by messing around with his brother. Also a hurricane had recently ruined most of the crops, they knew everyone else was upset, yet they were able to find happiness in each other. Doodle’s character is very joyful, but I do not think he would be able to be this character without his

Once naming Doodle after three months the father and mother named him, William Armstrong, describing it as the equivalence to a small kite with a big tail. Once the brother of the story decided that name only suited a person of importance that is dead he renames him, Doodle, “Renaming my brother was perhaps the kindest thing I ever did for him, because nobody expects much from someone called Doodle.” (24). When the bird landed in their property, it was high up in a tree until it fell down, like how Doodle was high up with the name William Armstrong until it fell down by being renamed “Doodle”. The bird is like the expectations, since it was once so high up till it forcibly fell making it into this lower expectation-- once reaching high, great things now reaching the lowest of standards. In addition, the ibis started to flap its wings when it was in Doodle’s hand, like how Doodle screamed until his fatal experience, “...I heard Doodle, who had fallen behind, cry out, ‘Brother, Brother, don’t leave me!’”

The metaphorical connections between Doodle and the scarlet ibis, and plentiful uses of other literary devices, such as oxymorons and personifications, help to enhance thematic and character development in James Hurst’s The Scarlet Ibis. For it is the title of the book, Hurst employs a scarlet ibis into the story in an eloquent manner. He creates a direct parallel between the tropical bird and Doodle, hence enriching Doodle’s character depth before his ultimate downfall. Originally living in “the tropics— South America to Florida” (Hurst 163), the scarlet ibis is disparate from the average North Carolinian bird. As the ibis collides with a tree, “the bird [begins] to flutter, but the wings [are] uncoordinated” (Hurst 163). Daddy suggests “a storm must have brought it here"(Hurst 163), implying it was an external factor that pushed the ibis out of its boundaries and into to its death.

Next in “The Scarlet Ibis” Doodle was born with a red body and also the bird was red. In addition, another similarity they both got caught in a horrific storm that caused their death. This quote “Dead birds is bad luck,” (352) supports the thesis because it means that Doodle had the same problems as the bird, and Doodles condition was certain he could die of it. Another quote is “It's dead,” (352) this supports the thesis because, when the bird died it symbolized that most

That is what the author is trying to tell us in the story. In the text, the narrator struggles with loving who Doodle really is. Instead, he is constantly trying to change him. In the text it says, “ I decided to double my efforts, to make that list drive and reach our pot of gold. I made him swim until he turned blue and row until he couldn't lift an oar.”(27) In this quote, the narrator is trying to change who Doodle is so he won’t be any different from all the other kids when he starts school. Eventually the narrator pushes Doodle to change so much, it leads to Doodle’s death. On page 28, is says, “The knowledge that Doodle's and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind with a wall of rain dividing us.”(28) In this part in the story, the narrator and Doodle are running to their home due to the bad weather. And when the two of them are running home, Doodle falls behind due fatigue from the narrator making him swim to improve his physical strength. The narrator, as cruel as he is, left his brother to die all

“‘Dead birds [are] bad luck,’ said Aunt Nicey, poking her head from the kitchen door. ‘Specially red dead birds!’” The scarlet ibis is very symbolic; it is a foreshadowing of what is to come. When Aunt Nicey says that red birds are bad luck, she is right. Directly afterwards, Doodle wants to bury it. Once they get to the woods, it starts thundering. Then, as they exit the woods, the narrator has a feeling return to him that he hasn’t felt in a long time, an aggressive feeling towards Doodle. The narrator proceeds to leave Doodle behind, and Doodle ends up getting struck by lightning and falling to the ground dead just like the scarlet ibis fell to the ground. This is both ironic and symbolic for the narrator. It is ironic because he worked so hard to get Doodle to where he was, but then is overpowered by the evil forces in his emotions. It is also symbolic, because the scarlet ibis was a warning, a warning not to leave Doodle and let childish beliefs overpower him. After the death of Doodle the narrator reflects on it, saying, “Sometimes, as I sit in the cool, green-draped parlor, the grindstone begins to turn, and time with all its changes is ground away--and I remember Doodle. Doodle was just about the craziest brother a boy ever had. Of course, he wasn't a crazy crazy like old Miss Leedie, who was in love with President Wilson and wrote him a letter every

Doodle was the first to notice the scarlet ibis in the bleeding tree. He was entranced by the beauty of the bird, and he stood by himself longer than any time prior to that moment. This displays Doodle’s immediate connection to the bird. “A scarlet ibis! How many miles it had traveled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree”(Hurst, Page 4).

Hurst’s uses symbolism in The Scarlet Ibis to convey his theme that it is human nature to change ourselves or the people around us if it causes embarrassment, or hurts our reputation. People tend to try and change the things that cause us to feel ashamed or embarrassed. Many humans have likelihood to change what and who surround them in order to have a good ego. When people get embarrassed, they try to modify themselves, so it doesn’t happen again. An example of symbolism is when Brother thought in his mind while crying, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn't walk, so I set out to teach him.” (Hurst 353). In other words, his own shame was the reason he wanted Doodle to walk, so he taught him. This symbolizes how humans do things for

Both Doodle and the scarlet ibis’s life concluded in a terrible way. In the story, the narrator explained the death of the scarlet ibis, “At that moment the bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated, and amid much flapping and a spray of flying feathers, it tumbled down, bumping through the limbs of the bleeding tree and landing at our feet with a thud. Its long, graceful neck jerked twice into an S, then straightened out, and the bird was still,” (Hurst ll. 298-302). Also, the narrator specified Doodle’s tragic death, “He didn’t answer, so I placed my hand on his forehead and lifted his head. Limply, he fell backward onto the earth. He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red,” (Hurst ll. 383-386). The scarlet ibis traveled a long way from where it lived to escape from the storm. The bird began to die due to an injury. As a result from that injury, the scarlet ibis’s life terminated. Doodle’s life also came to an end after he traveled a long way. Doodle traveled a long way by learning many new things and developing many skills that he was unable to do before. From being pushed so hard, his heart condition took over and his life

The Scarlet Ibis is a big, red bird that Doodle had found dead beneath the bleeding tree. Doodle can relate to the bird in one major way. They have both come a long way. The reader can assume that Doodle does not live where the bird does in because the father states that it lives in, “...

But, Hurt’s description of the scarlet ibis is perhaps the most meaningful use of imagery in his short story. Unfortunately, the bird dies right in front of the narrator, Doodle, and their parents. Yet, “...death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers, and we stood around it, awed by its exotic beauty” (Hurst 5). At the end of the story, the narrator leaves Doodle all on his own in the pouring rain and Doodle

Doodle even notices the similarities himself and begins to care for the bird when nobody else will. Since the ibis symbolizes Doodle, its death can also foreshadow his death. Doodle is prepared to die after the death of the bird and uses it to show