The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst

When I read “The Scarlet Ibis,” I think of my little sister being premature, and then later die of because all of her organs are not formed all the way. Writer James Hurst makes a fiction story seem so realistic, it is hard to believe it is fiction. In “The Scarlet Ibis” a young boy conflicts his emotions toward his younger brother simultaneously. In the story two brothers learn how to treat each other through tough and easy times. Brother lets his pride get in the way, and then it indecently went to killing his younger brother, Doodle. Brother’s pride leads to help Doodle for all the wrong reasons. This pride pushes Brother too far. “The Scarlet Ibis” shows the reader how the emotions of the brothers are conflicting at one time.

Doodle and the narrator went to the swamp frequently to teach Doodle something new or tell stories, but he did that for the wrong reason. For example, “When I was five year old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who [can not] walk, so I set out to teach him…’I’m going to teach you how to walk, Doodle,’ I said.” (Hurst 112) This shows that the narrator teaches Doodle how to walk because he is embarrassed, but acted like he is teaching him because he wants to be a nice older brother who wants to see his brother grow. This is important because later on in the story the narrator, Brother, conscience is going to kick in when they start to praise hi, for helping Doodle. Furthermore, “Doodle told him them it was I who had taught him how to walk, so everyone [wants] to hug me, and I [began] to cry.” (Hurst 113) You again notice how the family thinks the narrator did this out of his heart, but actually he helped Doodle because his pride told him to. This also shows that the narrator begins to fe...

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... he was.” (Hurst 110) You again notice how at first Doodle’s mother is convinced he would not be all there. Then one afternoon later Brother exclaimed Doodle is actually all there. The feeling of disappointment is changed quickly again to excitement. This shows that there is not always tension between Doodle and Brother. The coffin symbol may have a negative effect on the passage, but an even better effect is made with Doodle getting through obstacles.

James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis” showed two brothers battling conflicting emotions simultaneously. Brother kills Doodle by letting his pride take control. Towards the end of the story Brother begins to realize, but it is too late. Pride is definitely a bad thing in this short story.

Works Cited

Hurst, James. The Scarlet Ibis. Mirrors and Windows: Connecting with Literature, Level IV. St. Paul: EMC. 2009. Print.