Doodle's Disability

Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Through this simple statement, Mandela explains that nothing is truly beyond the scope of human ability. James Hurst illustrates Doodle’s life story in The Scarlet Ibis, and describes how he overcomes his numerous disabilities to learn to walk. In the short story, The Scarlet Ibis, James Hurst uses the symbol of a scarlet ibis to show how Doodle’s immense perseverance helps him battle his fragility throughout his short life. Hurst portrays Doodle’s disabilities by highlighting the crippled boy’s life journey through a description of Doodle’s neonatal life, his death, and finally by summarizing how much Doodle had accomplished while being weighed down by his multitudinous …show more content…
For example, Doodle’s family, except for Aunt Nicey, decided that Doodle would probably die because he was born red, crippled and in a caul. Doodle’s father has a carpenter build a little mahogany coffin for his crippled son, thinking Doodle would die within a few days or weeks. When Doodle survived for 3 months, his family decided that they might as well give him a name. Hurst explains their decision to name him when he says, “They named him William Armstrong, which was like tying a big tail on a small kite. Such a name only sounds good on a tombstone”(Hurst 1). Even though Doodle miraculously survived his first 3 months, his family was still sure that he would die quickly, for his name was chosen only because it would sound good on a tombstone. Doodle’s family didn’t believe that he would ever live, thinking that Doodle was crippled and had no chance of survival. The only person who believed in Doodle’s survival was the woman who delivered him, Aunt Nicey. In the short story, Aunt Nicey expresses her opinion on baby Doodle, “She said he would live because he was born in a caul, and cauls were made from Jesus’ nightgown”(1). Doodle’s entire family had given up hope on him actually living through his first year. However, Aunt Nicey somehow knew he was special and said that he would survive because he was born in a caul. Clearly, Doodle’s family viewed him as …show more content…
Even after Doodle started to awkwardly crawl around backwards, his brother would have to drag him around in a cart. Doodle’s brother became attached to Doodle and became convinced that Doodle had to learn to walk. At first, Doodle’s handicap severely limits his ability to try to walk, “I took him by the arms and stood him up. He collapsed onto the grass like a half-empty flour sack. It was as if he had no bones in his little legs”(4). Doodle cannot seem to walk or even stand on his own legs without support from another person. It seems as though he will never be able to walk or be the friend his brother had always wanted him to be. After many, many months of heart-wrenching failures, Doodle finally learns to walk by himself. Doodle and his brother plan to reveal it to the entire family and it turns into a great event. Hurst describes the scene, “There wasn't a sound as Doodle walked slowly across the room and sat down at his place at the table. Then Mama began to cry and ran over to him, hugging him and kissing him. Daddy hugged him too, so I went to Aunt Nicey, who was thanks praying in the doorway, and began to waltz her around”(5). Doodle learns to walk and everyone is in complete shock at first, but then they realize that Doodle may finally be more like them than they ever thought. He was becoming more normal as he conquered his physical handicaps by learning to walk. To summarize, Doodle’s learning

Show More

Scarlet Ibis Doodle Character Traits

Doodle's Brother In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst

The Scarlet Ibis: Is The Narrator Responsible For Doodle's Death

Scarlet Ibis Argumentative Essay

Essay about The Scarlet Ibis

Simon Birch And The Scarlet Ibis Comparison

Pride In The Scarlet Ibis

Doodle's Struggle In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst

Scarlet Ibis Narrator's Selfishness

Essay On The Scarlet Ibis