short story “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst creates the Ibis to symbolize the young boy Doodle. “For a long time it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain.” Earlier on in the text, A scarlet ibis had fallen out of a tree dead. Doodle had taken care of the bird, which represents himself when he passes away in the end of the story and his older brother, the narrator holds him in sorrow. For a long while, Doodle helped out the ibis and made an effort…
Words 251 - Pages 2
The theme statement of “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst would be that if someone isn’t grateful enough for something,they just might be the one to take it away from themselves. “The Scarlet Ibis” is a story about a boy and his little brother, Doodle, who is disabled, and not exactly like everybody else. The older brother established a strong disliking toward Doodle. He feared that he would be the one ridiculed for having a sibling who was “different”. Having this in mind, he taught Doodle basic…
Words 365 - Pages 2
Why do we hurt the ones we love? Is it out of hate, or simply a painful mistake? In the story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, one explanation for this question is explored. Hurst takes us through a story of pain, guilt, and beauty to reveal a deeper meaning of human nature. The story takes place in the southern United States around the early 1900’s. The story is told from the perspective of the narrator, who is recalling memories of his younger brother, Doodle. Doodle is six years younger than…
Words 229 - Pages 1
In the short story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the author uses symbols of death/dying to show the importance of recognizing one’s limits. Firstly, the symbol of death/ dying is used when the doctor tells the family about Doodle’s limits. “The doctor said with his weak heart that this strain would probably kill him” (Hurst 1). This shows that Brother and the rest of the family know that Doodle has limits. The second time the symbol of death/dying is used is when Brother tries to get Doodle…
Words 188 - Pages 1
In the story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the author uses the symbol of death to show the reader how pushing someone beyond his limits can cause a permanent, negative consequence. The first time the reader sees Doodle break expectations when he does something his family thought he would never live to do. “His hand trembling, reaching out, and when he touched the casket, he screamed” (Hurst 2). This shows Doodle breaking expectations because he was supposed to be in the casket he touched, but…
Words 184 - Pages 1
The theme of The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst is that to much pride can take someone over their limit. For instance, on page 425 the narrator said “I heard Doodle, who had fallen behind, cry out, “Brother, Brother, don’t leave me! Don’t leave me!” 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” the narrator was trying to get his brother Doodle to learn how to run, he was embarrassed of having a brother…
Words 260 - Pages 2
I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to teach you to walk. I heaved him up again, and again he collapsed”(Hurst). “He looked down at me, and there was an agonizing, wordless plea for help in his eyes. I--well, I looked away”(Pentecost 43). “The Scarlet Ibis”, by James Hurst, is about a boy whose brother is slower at learning and can’t do all of the things he can. The boy sets off to teach his brother, Doodle, how to walk and play sports like he can, so he can have a “normal” brother. Throughout the…
Words 936 - Pages 4
Francisco Ochoa Mrs. Wrabel Junior Honors English 30 April 2024 Betrayal within Families “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst and “My Brother’s Keeper” by Jay Bennett, bring up the intricacies of relationships, specifically within families. Both stories touch on the theme of betrayal and how it shows up in relationships between family members. In “The Scarlet Ibis”, the narrator, blinded by his pride and anger, betrays his little brother, Doodle. The narrator found it hard to love Doodle because Doodle…
Words 586 - Pages 3
may intentionally discriminate them and think they should be excluded from society. Our pride and self-respect may lead to destruction and chaos to others for their abnormal and peculiar ways of living. This is similar to the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”, when Brother’s pride forced himself to be cruel and toxic to Doodle since his pride made him incapable to present his affection and caring for Doodle. Brother’s obnoxious pride could not handle the imbalance between the ideal brother he wanted…
Words 602 - Pages 3
KyLin Anderson Kapsner English 10, 1st hour 17 May 2024 The Dead Bleeding Tree In the short story, “ The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the author uses the color red to show that people should recognize the limits of others. Brother realized he was pushing Doodle to exhaustion when he was struggling to get up. “Trembling, he’d push himself up, turning first, red, then a soft purple, and finally collapse back onto the bed like an old worn-out doll”(Hurst 1). This shows that Doodle pushes himself to…
Words 224 - Pages 1