Scarlet Ibis Allegory

Did a young boy actually kill his own brother? “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst. In this story the main characters are boy named Brother and his younger, disabled brother Doodle. Brother is on trial for killing Doodle. Brother planned to kill Doodle because he always ashamed of having a disabled brother. Brother is guilty of killing Doodle because he didn’t want a brother who was disabled so he always planned to kill him.

“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

When Doodle is first born and after about three years he is being taught how to walk like normal people walk and his brother is not to thrilled about it he is just doing it because he does not want to drag him around and be dead weight so he does this so he does not have to deal with him as much.

In the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst writes about a troubling tale of two brothers, older and younger, living together on a small farm and the older brother trying to help his younger brother fit in with the world around him. Doodle, the younger brother, is a very sickly child, whom no one is expecting to live. As a result, the older brother is disappointed, since he wanted a brother that he could have fun with. Angered by the condition of his younger brother, the older brother becomes determined to change him, and he constantly pushes him toward becoming the brother that he had originally expected. Doodle learns a great deal of things from his brother, but all his learning comes at a dangerously high price to Doodle in the

What is the definition of pride? If someone were to search the definition they would find that pride is “a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” People can experience pride from many things like success, or intelligence, and even simple petty things being the first to turn in their test in a class. In the story the character Brother has a different type of pride, instead of being prideful of his actions his pride is a character trait. Brother is prideful of himself and having his crippled brother Doodle damaged his pride which is a dangerous thing when pride is a trait instead of a feeling. People often forget about how important a family member, especially siblings, are because they haven’t matured enough to understand the complexity and importance of life and family. In James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis” brotherhood is a very big topic throughout it and the character “Brother” demonstrates how complicated and strange being prideful, being a sibling, and being a person, is. Through the story he is characterized as considerate and hurtful through his actions and inner thoughts.

In the same fashion, the swamp was also used as a symbol to enhance the theme. The swamp was where the boys could go to feel at home in the story. So much happens in the swamp, from Doodle learning how to walk, to the final moments of Doodle’s life, that in the end it represents a safe haven. This symbol enhances the theme because during the time that Doodle was alive, neither one of them really appreciated the beauty of it. However, once the protagonist couldn’t go out there with Doodle anymore, he realized how precious it was to both of them. Arguably the biggest symbol in this short story, the scarlet ibis symbolizes Doodle. After the scarlet ibis dies, the text says, “Sadly, we all looked back at the bird. A scarlet ibis! How many miles it had traveled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree” (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2003, p. 5). This quote directly relates to Doodle because after coming so far in his physical and mental abilities, it all comes to an end faster than anyone could

Brother tells his story of the damage that Doodle’s death left on his life. The disabled Doodle is helped by his brother, who is embarrassed of him. When he finds a dead scarlet ibis in their yard, Brother does not know that the bird symbolizes him until Doodle dies later that day from the stress on his heart. Symbolism is shown in this story because the scarlet ibis represents Doodle in almost every way. Foreshadowing is shown within the first paragraphs of the story as it hints at what will happen by the end. In “The Scarlet Ibis”, Hurst uses symbolism and foreshadowing to show that disrespecting what you have results in it disappearing.

My brother really wanted a younger brother, but when he sees that Doodle is born with a disability, he gets disappointed because he won’t have someone to play with. Brother becomes determined to teach Doodle how to walk, so he won’t be ashamed, which shows how selfish Brother is. He is ashamed of Doodle. He is going to risk his life just so Brother isn’t ashamed of Doodle. James Hurst uses foreshadowing and symbolism to show how shame and selfishness can mess with Doodle and Brother’s relationship.

Symbolism is used in literature as a visual representation of something invisible, which provides deeper meaning to the writing beyond what is being described. In “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, various examples of symbolism are incorporated into the story. The plot and action that take place in the excerpt can be thought of as one level, while the symbolism of certain things in the writing act on another level to enhance the story. Birds are of extreme symbolic importance within the narrative, and encourage a reader to think below the surface of the text.

Symbolism shows there is a motif of death throughout the story, “The last graveyard flowers were blooming, and their smell drifted across the cotton field and through every room of our house, speaking softly the names of our dead”(416). The narrator is describing how even the blooming flowers smelled like death which symbolises the death of Doodle. This helps build the theme because the narrator is relating the flowers’ smell to death because he wants to set a mood of sadness and mourning. The narrator also symbolises the scarlet ibis’ connection with doodle, “For a long, long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain”(426). The narrator is relating Doodle to the scarlet ibis, both fragile yet indigenous. This helps build the theme because the narrator is trying to shelter himself from the truth that is brother has died because of his

Brother in “The Scarlet Ibis” is very selfish, especially to his younger brother Doodle. All Brother wanted was a brother that was normal, but Doodle was different. People can have greed such as Brother. In the first place, Brother pushed Doodle, his sibling with special needs, further than what he was capable of. Doodle died from his brother pushing him too hard. In the story, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the theme applied is people who obtain greed only think of their own needs and is revealed through symbolism and foreshadowing throughout the short story.

Hurst utilizes foreshadowing to demonstrate how the brother’s selfishness and pride leads to the death of Doodle. Not long after Doodle was born, the mother explains to the brother that Doodle might be mentally handicapped as well as physically handicapped. The brother could not accept the fact that his brother is different, so he “began to make plans to kill him [Doodle] by smothering him in his sleep” (Hurst 1). From the very beginning, Doodle’s brother is unable to except the fact that his brother is not normal and never will be. His selfishness and pride leads him to want to kill

Think about the word delicate. What comes to mind? To some, it may be a word they use to describe their mom’s glass vase. However, delicate has a greater meaning, a condition of a beautiful, precious, living thing which must be preserved, valued, and cherished. In the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”, written by James Hurst, the author highlights the life of a young boy named Doodle, who was born disabled, and his older brother, the narrator. The narrator, referred by Doodle as Brother, lacks the understanding of how Doodle is extremely fragile, and often neglects his needs and safety while trying to train Doodle to be “normal.” Hurst uses many literary devices, such as flashback, foreshadowing, and symbolism, which develops the theme, how delicate things are beautiful, and should be cared for with love and respect.

(Topic)(I)An ibis (MA) shows up one day, by motivating itself to travel more than it ever has, similar to Doodle, who has to walk, swim, and run, but (MB) Doodle and the ibis end with the same fate. (Rewording of MA) The scarlet ibis and Doodle motivate themselves to do more than expected and overcome the odds. They exhaust themselves, but still keep pushing. (m1MA) Aunt Nicey foreshadows Doodle's fate by stating, "Dead birds is bad luck... Specially red dead birds!" (Hurst 5). (m2MA) The scarlet bird means danger is coming Doodle’s way. (Rewording of MB) The ibis and Doodle accomplish a lot with motivation, but end with the same destiny. (m1MB) When the ibis dies, “Its long, graceful neck jerked twice into an S, then straightened out, and the bird was still... Its legs were crossed and its clawlike feet were delicately curved at rest” (Hurst 5). Similar to the Ibis’ death, when Doodle dies, “He lay very awkwardly, with his head thrown far back, making his vermilion neck appear unusually long and slim. His little legs,

Pride is a leading theme in most of the short stories in the unit. All show that your pride can endanger you or someone else.