Children give adults a refreshing view on the world. Authors often reflect upon the rolls of children the world. James Hurst masterfully highlights the extraordinary joy and the spontaneity that children can bring into people’s lives. For example, Doodle, one of the main characters in James Hurst’s “The Scarlet Ibis”, is an invalid boy when he is first born, but as he develops he overcomes many of the challenges put in his way. Although Doodle has many physical limitations compared to the average boy his age, he does not allow his disabilities define who he is. Rather, he is a complex character with many sides to him that vary from vulnerable to imaginative, and most importantly pure. Doodle’s vulnerability is a consequence of his debilitating
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Besides Doodle’s crazy imagination, he also has a distinctive genuine personality and his way of thinking is very pure. Often Doodle’s opinions have not been tainted by social issues or what people think. Rather he enjoys every opportunity, no matter how small. For example when the Narrator first takes Doodle to Old Woman Swamp, he embraces the picturesque landscape and begins to feel emotional because of its beauty. The Narrator is surprised by Doodle’s reaction as he was not expecting him to appreciate the view as much as he did. Their first visit to Old Woman Swamp also caused the Narrator to understand Doodle’s interests better as well and the way he thinks. Another moment in the story that helps to portray Doodle’s pure nature is when he honourably buries the Scarlet Ibis. What stood out when Doodle disposed of the Ibis was the fact that he, and no one else, thought it best to bury the dead bird; probably because he found a connection between him and the bird. Unquestionably the way that Doodle showed respect towards the Scarlet Ibis and also expressed the importance of equality, he displays attributes of purity. Besides demonstrating purity when Doodle buried the Ibis, he also displays his purity when he tells stories using his broad imagination. The crazy and vivid stories he comes up with demonstrate his purity because he lets his mind wander. Most importantly though is the how he tells amazing stories without being concerned with what they are about and what the Narrator may think about them. Doodle is not self-cautious and does not mind being the way he is; instead he enjoys it. Likewise, when the Narrator wants to teach Doodle how to walk and the Narrator asks him if he wants to be different from the other kids at school, Doodle answers: “Does it make any difference?” (Pg.174). Usually people of all ages worry about being different from what
Besides Doodle’s crazy imagination, he also has a distinctive genuine personality and his way of thinking is very pure. Often Doodle’s opinions have not been tainted by social issues or what people think. Rather he enjoys every opportunity, no matter how small. For example when the Narrator first takes Doodle to Old Woman Swamp, he embraces the picturesque landscape and begins to feel emotional because of its beauty. The Narrator is surprised by Doodle’s reaction as he was not expecting him to appreciate the view as much as he did. Their first visit to Old Woman Swamp also caused the Narrator to understand Doodle’s interests better as well and the way he thinks. Another moment in the story that helps to portray Doodle’s pure nature is when he honourably buries the Scarlet Ibis. What stood out when Doodle disposed of the Ibis was the fact that he, and no one else, thought it best to bury the dead bird; probably because he found a connection between him and the bird. Unquestionably the way that Doodle showed respect towards the Scarlet Ibis and also expressed the importance of equality, he displays attributes of purity. Besides demonstrating purity when Doodle buried the Ibis, he also displays his purity when he tells stories using his broad imagination. The crazy and vivid stories he comes up with demonstrate his purity because he lets his mind wander. Most importantly though is the how he tells amazing stories without being concerned with what they are about and what the Narrator may think about them. Doodle is not self-cautious and does not mind being the way he is; instead he enjoys it. Likewise, when the Narrator wants to teach Doodle how to walk and the Narrator asks him if he wants to be different from the other kids at school, Doodle answers: “Does it make any difference?” (Pg.174). Usually people of all ages worry about being different from what