The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst: Literary Analysis

The Saint on Earth Often people do more hurtful things to the ones they love, rather than bypassers on the street. Many people do not realize that some of the most hurtful things that they say, is more often than not, directed to a loved one. In “The Scarlet Ibis,” by James Hurst, an older brother pushes his younger, disabled brother, William Armstrong, to the point of death. Although this was not his plan, he was still embarrassed of his presence and was trying to mold or fix Doodle into being something that he was not. Now looking back on this time in his past, he regrets the way he treated his loved one. He was aware that he was hurting him, but it is not until the end when he realizes he lost someone that he truly loved. The characteristics of Brother as being embarrassed, prideful, and regretful help prove the theme that sometimes people hurt the ones that they love the most. …show more content…
Every day Brother worked with Doodle and helped him earn how to walk. Of course, Brother was not very vigilant with Doodles physical being. He picked him up and dropped him on his small, fragile legs: “Everyday that summer we went to the pine beside the stream of Old Woman swamp, and I put him on his feet at least a hundred times each afternoon” (Hrst 467). Brother, however, did not put in all of his time and effort for the sake of Doodle’s health, but rather he did it to cure his own embarrassment. Throughout the summer. Brother took it upon himself to be Doodle’ personal trainer. His last activity he made Doodle do was soon to be too much for Doodle’s heart to handle. Brother, disappointed in Doodle’s failure of rowing upstream in the rain, decided to leave his vulnerable, weak sibling in the pouring rain. Brother was not fully aware of the harm he caused for his brother and the infinite amount of years of regret in his near