The Scarlet Ibis Analysis

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 James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis”, the Brother pushed Doodle to learn how to walk, swim, run and various activities so that Doodle would not seem to be crippled. Through the Brother's characterization, conflicts and eventual resolution, Hurst suggested that one's overwhelming selfishness, pride and cruelty can result in the death of a loved brother.

In the text the narrator states ¨It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began to make plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow¨ (Hurst, 351). This quote from the text proves the narrator hated his younger brother, and even went so far as to make plans to kill him because he could not stand to have a disabled brother. The narrator even went so far as to say, “The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened” (Hurst, 360). This textual evidence helps demonstrate the contempt and anger the narrator felt for his brother. This anger, contempt, and shame that the narrator felt for his brother, Doodle, was the reason that the narrator killed his

The older brother of Doodle was ashamed of Doodle ever since he was born he actually made plans to kill Doodle when he was a baby. He was rough with Doodle on purpose so Doodle wouldn’t want to go with him. He didn’t do anything for Doodle out of love he did it so he wouldn’t have a crippled brother.

In the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, Hurst illustrates the struggle of one boy with his disability and his and his brothers expectations.

At the beginning, Doodle had been very hesitant to go along with his brother’s plans. He tried to argue with his brother. “I can’t walk, Brother,” Doodle said. “Who says so?” He demanded. “Mama, the doctor, everybody,” uttered Doodle. “Oh, you can walk,” The narrator said.” Shortly after that, Doodle began to follow the narrator’s orders and self ambitions. Soon, the narrator had acquired too much ambition, putting Doodle at risk. This is evident with Doodle’s constant cry, “don’t hurt me, Brother.” Little did the narrator know he would be pushing his brother too far. Later in the story, the narrator let his ambition overcome him and decided to keep on pushing his brother. He did not want a brother who could not do what other normal schoolboys could do. He admits to himself, “the knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened.” He believed what Doodle could not do would greatly affect him and his social

The setting of “The Scarlet Ibis” helps prepare the readers’ state of mind from the very beginning. In the first place, the story takes place at the end of World War I and represents the internal conflict the narrator has as he struggles between guilt of his younger brother’s death and the acceptance of his brother’s disabilities. With this in mind, the narrator is abashed over Doodle’s inability to walk because he thinks disabilities are shameful, and he wanted a brother who was athletic, outgoing, and adventurous. For this reason,”When Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn't walk, so I set out to teach him (Hurst 417).” The narrator admits to going out of his way to train Doodle to walk because he has so much pride that it is getting in the way of more important goals, meaning he would rather have a “normal” brother than a happy one. The poor treatment of his brother ultimately leads to Doodle’s death. Furthermore, he forces Doodle to do things unwillingly, such as touch his own coffin and train him to be “normal”. The narrator traumatizes his little brother to think a certain way in order to become accepted by society. Even

Doodle’s brother taught him these things because he was tired of having a brother who couldn’t do anything. So he taught him, and he pushed Doodle harder and harder so that he didn’t have to deal with him. Showing his family that Doodle could walk, and Doodle’s brother realized what he could accomplish. Doodle’s brother continued to push him until one day, he pushed too hard. He knew a storm was coming, but hesitated at returning home because of Doodle’s failed attempts of running and walking. The brother recognized that a, “streak of cruelty within me awakened. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind” (Hurst 117). This revealed the side of pride that resulted in death. That too much pride will fill you up, and you will keep continuing it until it

In the last part of the quote the narrator describes how “[he] was ashamed of having a crippled brother.” This selfishness in him shows how Doodle’s brother had cared about his image much more than his brother. Furthermore, another factor that comes from being prideful is harm, which can hurt the closest ones. As Doodle and his brother were coming back in the rain from one of their practices to get Doodle to be “normal,” his brother abandoned Doodle. “Brother, Brother, don’t leave

He happens to be jealous of the attention Doodle gets and remains embarrassed by Doodle's difference and also annoyed at the fact that he had to take Doodle everywhere with him. Barely tolerating the fact that Doodle was different from everyone else and strived to teach him "normal" things but not for Doodle's own good. "So I began to make plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow", Brother says (417). This arises the source of deep shame for Brother. This shows Doodle's extreme vulnerability, while showing just how disturbed Brother is by the idea of Doodle's difference.

At the end of “The Scarlet Ibis”, the narrator thinks to himself, “The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened” (Hurst 425). Doodle’s brother possesses a short fuse when dealing with troubling issues. His reactions occasionally lead to problems later on due to his tendency towards cruelty. In this case, Doodle’s brother becomes angry that he does not reach his goals and this anger leads to destruction, and then turns to sorrow.

He was only considering how Doodle’s situation would affect his own, and the dissatisfaction and disappointment he felt when he heard that his brother wasn’t normal. More on the topic, when Brother and Doodle were running home during a dangerous storm, Brother reveals, “The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened” (353). Here, Brother seems disastrously selfish. He leaves his handicapped brother Doodle, alone during a frightening storm -- due to his astringent feelings about his plans not taking shape. Again, he does not

He desires to change and to make his mother to be proud of him. That is why he is becoming less egoistic. He thinks about his mother. At the end, when Doodle dies, “Brother” considers Doodle as his own brother and stops thinking egoistically. “Brother” ends its story with the words “sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis” which shows that he has stopped thinking only about himself because he considers Doodle as a part of him (Hurst 4).

He pushed Doodle to hard emotionally many ways. He made made fun of how Doodle wasn't normal. But one thing brother had done to Doodle that was super mean. Brother took Doodle to see his coffin that was made for him when he was a baby. Another thing he did was made Doodle touch the coffin. And that's what Brother did to push Doodle past the emotionally breaking point.

He was so determined but he only realized on Doodles seventh birthday that he did it all for the wrong reasons. He taught Doodle how to walk so that he didn't have to look stupid in front of his friends, not to be nice and just show Doodle how to walk like a friend. Then once we was done teaching him how to walk, he taught him how to do other things like swim, climb, and how to be as athletic as he was. He was always trying to make the brother he never had. But even though he’s determined to teach him all of these nice things, he still is only doing to for self gain. Some people would say that he is stubborn and desperate, but when I think of those words I think of them being last minute and you have no other options. But in this case Doodle was not going to school for a little while and the narrator could have done anything in that scenario. He could have sucked it up and wheeled him around, he could have killed him like he was going to do before, or he could have not done anything, but he choose to teach Doodle how to walk. But overall, the narrator was determined to teach Doodle how to