The crackling thunder threatens to strike with a violent flash of lightning. Brother’s clothes are soaked with pride and spitting rain. It is betrayal that is born from the web of arrogance and the doors of love. A young boy, driven by his own perilous pride, abandons his disabled sibling in James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis.” Brother puts a lot of effort into improving his younger sibling, Doodle’s, athletic ability. Unfortunately, however, Brother helps Doodle for his own benefits, and his vain decisions result in the death of his little brother. Brother’s actions show that while he is responsible for a large portion of the blame, he does not deserve all of it. The narrator, Brother, displays quite a bit of cruelty, as shown with
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As the short story begins, it is established that Brother is confident in his abilities. He claims, “I thought myself pretty smart at many things, like holding my breath, running, jumping, or climbing the vines in Old Woman Swamp…”(Hurst 485). At a young age, Brother already believes that is capable of many tasks. While it is acceptable—and even helpful—to believe in one’s own powers, there can be consequences when one thinks too highly of oneself. The negative ramifications of a swollen ego are applicable to Brother, as his supercilious attitude results in the downfall of both himself and his sibling. The narrator is also concerned with only himself. Referring to his younger sibling, Brother states, “He was a burden in many ways.… A long list of don’ts went with him, all of which I ignored once we got out of the house”(Hurst 486). Brother views Doodle as a strain, and he disregards the physical limitations of his younger brother. His lack of respect for his sibling’s disabilities shows that he does not seem to care or be cautious about the deficits of others, and he considers those with impairments to be nuisances. Since he appears to only care about the well-being of himself, Brother possesses a self-important way of thinking. His conceited attitude is also portrayed when he begins teaching Doodle to do activities an allegedly normal boy would do. When reminiscing upon the moments shared among the siblings, Brother explains, “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 488). Brother, finding a handicapped sibling humiliating, decides to train his younger brother in an attempt to improve his [Doodle’s] physical abilities. While this may seem considerate, Brother’s motive for improving his sibling is purely for his own benefit. In the beginning of James Hurst’s short story, it is
As the short story begins, it is established that Brother is confident in his abilities. He claims, “I thought myself pretty smart at many things, like holding my breath, running, jumping, or climbing the vines in Old Woman Swamp…”(Hurst 485). At a young age, Brother already believes that is capable of many tasks. While it is acceptable—and even helpful—to believe in one’s own powers, there can be consequences when one thinks too highly of oneself. The negative ramifications of a swollen ego are applicable to Brother, as his supercilious attitude results in the downfall of both himself and his sibling. The narrator is also concerned with only himself. Referring to his younger sibling, Brother states, “He was a burden in many ways.… A long list of don’ts went with him, all of which I ignored once we got out of the house”(Hurst 486). Brother views Doodle as a strain, and he disregards the physical limitations of his younger brother. His lack of respect for his sibling’s disabilities shows that he does not seem to care or be cautious about the deficits of others, and he considers those with impairments to be nuisances. Since he appears to only care about the well-being of himself, Brother possesses a self-important way of thinking. His conceited attitude is also portrayed when he begins teaching Doodle to do activities an allegedly normal boy would do. When reminiscing upon the moments shared among the siblings, Brother explains, “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 488). Brother, finding a handicapped sibling humiliating, decides to train his younger brother in an attempt to improve his [Doodle’s] physical abilities. While this may seem considerate, Brother’s motive for improving his sibling is purely for his own benefit. In the beginning of James Hurst’s short story, it is