Scarlet Ibis Research Paper

Pride can be a fulfilling quality at times, however, it can sometimes be your enemy. It often breeds cruelty. In “The Scarlet Ibis”, written by James Hurst, cruel pride is shown perfectly and tragically. Brother, the narrator, wanted a normal sibling; a partner who he could do leisure activities with. “I thought myself pretty smart at many things, like holding my breath, running, jumping, climbing vines in Old Woman Swamp, and I wanted more than anything else someone to race to Horsehead Landing, someone to box with, and someone to perch within the top fork of the great pine behind the barn, where across the fields and swamps you could see the sea. I wanted a brother.” (Hurst 595). Instead, he was born with “...an invalid brother…” (Hurst 595). Ashamed, he killed his wounded brother trying to make him normal.

James Hurst is the author of the heart breaking short story entitled “The Scarlet Ibis”. “The Scarlet Ibis” is a short story about two brothers; one brother is healthy, while the other is physically handicapped. The short story is centered on the idea that the older, healthier brother’s selfishness and pride ultimately led to the death of his younger brother, Doodle. Numerous quotes throughout the story demonstrate Hurst’s use of symbolism and foreshadowing to portray and predict Doodle’s untimely and heartbreaking death.

In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the author, James Hurst, uses indirect characterization, mainly through the narrator’s internal thoughts and feelings, to convey the theme that disabilities are not flaws in an individual, and that they are mere differences that make each individual unique. Early in the story, the author explains that Doodle, the narrator’s brother, has a deadly heart condition which prevents him from participating in activities such as running, jumping, swimming, and even walking. When Doodle is not expected to live when he is born, the narrator says that he does not want an “invalid” brother, but instead, wants a brother who can run around, jump, and play with him. Even the rest of the family does not believe that he is going to survive, and they do not even name him until he lives for three months. Later in the story, the narrator thinks, “...but he learned to crawl

In The Scarlet Ibis, what evidence does the narrarator use to support his claim that Doodle was a burden in many ways?

In many cultures, coming of age is often celebrated because children become young adults who grasp self-awareness and accountability. At the same time, childhood is threatened by responsibility, which is dreaded because there is an unpredictable world of adulthood waiting with no guarantees. James Hurst demonstrates the journey of growing up through life experiences everyone goes through in the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”. Throughout his use of mood, setting, and symbolism, Hurst shows that maturing requires reflecting on past experiences and losing innocence, which then can transform one’s outlook on life.

Sometimes differences can even tare kin apart. Health, looks, and abilities can all result in this divide. James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis” portrays the relationship of between two brothers, Brother and Doodle and the diversities that they face with each other. To create this relationship and story Hurst uses literary elements; character, setting, and symbolism.

“The Scarlet Ibis” is the story of a boy, Brother, and his younger brother, Doodle, who has a disability. They go on many different adventures together and share a very strong bond. James Hurst, the author, includes a bird in the story and symbolically relates the scarlet ibis (the bird) and Doodle (the child with the disability) together. Throughout the book, James Hurst compares the bird and Doodle together through physical details, non-physical details, and even their deaths. By symbolically comparing Doodle to the scarlet ibis, James Hurst emphasizes his point that even if a child has a disability, they should be valued and loved the same way as a normal child.

JAMES HURST Adapted from: Elements of Literature: Third Course. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 2003.

Brother in James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis” and the narrator in Tillie Olsen's “I Stand Here Ironing” are determined.

The short story "The Scarlet Ibis" was written by James Hurst. This story is about a boy and his younger, disabled brother. Doodle was born and diagnosed as an invalid. Not being able to do certain things affected his life. The narrator set out to teach Doodle the things he never thought he could do. The narrator is described to be a prideful and determined person.

To fly was impossible maybe his wings were broken but these boundaries made him want to push against his limits. The Scarlet Ibis was probably on his way somewhere anywhere to prove someone wrong coming so far yet so close to reach a goal. The Scarlet Ibis came so far to die! The Scarlet Ibis comes so far and lands in the bleeding tree to say I’m here I did it look at me. But trying to do something like a normal bird flying makes him fall down to a stop and die.

Simon Birch and “The Scarlet Ibis” both reveal that pride can have negative effects, especially when the concern for one’s self image is his motivation. When a person tries to save their pride by hiding an aspect of themselves, it will have consequences. Trying to have people perceive oneself as something they are not can lead to feelings of guilt and distrust. In “The Scarlet Ibis”, the narrator teaches his brother, Doodle, how to walk. His parents are proud of Doodle and of him.

Relationships bring us together. If you’re having a bad day, being able to confide in a friend or family member who understands you is comforting. But what do you do if you don’t have someone who understands what you’re going through? In the short story, The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, Doodle and the Ibis are connected through their similarities of circumstance.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, and The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst make it clear that it is important to support one another, especially in a relationship where one is weaker than the other. In Of Mice and Men, George is constantly dismissing Lennie, by saying hurtful things like “‘When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts.’”(12). George also dismisses Lennie when he “scowled at him”. Since he most likely doesn’t understand what’s happening in Lennie’s mind, he doesn’t want to take the time to try to understand, just like Doodle’s brother in The Scarlet Ibis. Doodle’s brother gets a “streak of cruelty” within himself awaked, just as George, when Lennie asks for something from him.

Authors emphasize certain traits in characters that are comparable to other characters. ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ by Edgar Allen Poe is a short story about a man who uses his sporadic revenge to perform a sneaky murder. The second story, ‘Scarlet Ibis’ is another short story by James Hurst about a brother who realizes his pride his harmful. Throughout the stories, all characters had three tendencies in common; their planning, pride and trust.