The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst Quote Analysis

Improved Essays
Brotherhood and Childhood

“Because brothers don’t let each other wander in the dark alone” - Jolene Perry a well known author. Perry explains that brothers should not turn there back at each other and that brothers should always stick close together even at hard times because that’s what brothers are for. This quote is inferring that brothers should not be independant towards each other and that they should be open and trustworthy. In the story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the main character, Brother reveals his blended side of being a human being. In the story Brother is distinguished as being ashamed, faithful, and prideful through his actions and his expression. In the story Brother is portrayed as being ashamed towards Doodle,

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    In the short story "The Scarlet Ibis" James Hurst is showing the reader that Brother is more concerned about his pride than he is about Doodle. His embarrassment of Doodle made Brother push Doodle to his death which caused him to feel regret. First, it didn't take many miles for death to come to Doodle because he was crippled and weak. Second, death was with Doodle from beginning to end, and Doddle's family showed regret when they thought Doodle was going to die, and when he was born they made a coffin for him. In this image it shows that Doodle's family was already prepared for their goodbyes for Doodle's death.…

    • 201 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    One reason I say this is because it states that “So I began to make plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow” (345). That doesn't sound like brotherly love to me. This clearly shows that he hated Doodle because he wanted to kill his own brother. It also states that “When Doodle was 5 years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother who couldn’t walk” (346). He clearly didn’t like him because he was…

    • 407 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brother spits more cruelty the nearer school crawls, he fears for his pride, so he pushes Doodle to the point where his health declines. When asked if he cared about being different he said, “Does it make any difference” (Hurst, 3). Doodle honestly does not care about fitting in, though he recognizes his brother does and is so good-natured and saintly, that he puts his life at risk for his brother’s happiness. Doodle also endures Brother’s torturous exercise program, because he acquires time to spend with Brother, who would contrarily want nothing to do with…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the narrator is an abuser in his relationship with his brother Doodle. For example, the narrator states that it is terrible having an invalid brother and that he plans to kill Doodle by smothering Doodle with a pillow. This statement shows that the narrator is ashamed at having a brother who is handicapped and who is different from the other children. It is understandable that the narrator is upset, but since the narrator only knows that Doodle is physically challenged, and nothing about how Doodle’s characteristics are, planning to already murder Doodle can be considered to be a despicable and cruel deed. In addition, the narrator makes Doodle go through rigorous exercises often, even despite being aware…

    • 227 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the short story “The Scarlet Ibis,” by James Hurst a young boy is born with an oversized head on a tiny body and is predicted to die within the first few months of life. Once he survives, his older brother makes it his goal to teach him how to walk, swim and many other normal humanly things so he would no longer have to be embarrassed of him. Throughout the story there are multiple techniques that Hurst uses in order to help the reader predict the outcome of the story. In The Scarlet Ibis, James Hurst uses religious allusion, traditional foreshadowing, and symbolism to foreshadow the end.…

    • 1031 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Scarlet Ibis The Scarlet Ibis is a story about two young boys, the narrator, and Doodle - formerly named William Armstrong. But that’s not all that the Scarlet Ibis is about. The Scarlet Ibis is also about the Sin of Pride, and how Pride brings with it two seeds - life and death. This theme is one of the core aspects of the Scarlet Ibis. The narrator’s pride is what sets in motion this story in the first place.…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    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…

    • 1970 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In James Hurst’s, “The Scarlet Ibis”, the narrator uses the motif of red to describe the death of Doodle. Color red associates with blood which everyone would think of “Bleeding tree” is frequently appearing in this story, and this symbolizes Doodle’s death which is “A grind stone stands where the bleeding tree stood…”(89). The bleeding tree is just like the scene where Doodle dies, but the readers would not know that Doodle would die eventually and bleeding tree is illustrating Doodle but the readers would not understand how bleeding free associates with Doodle until they read the story till the end. This is how the author makes the reader to be suspicious and think about the word choice. Also, the bleeding tree is standing next to a grindstone.…

    • 593 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Brother is a very narcissistic person who only wants to make himself look better for having a disabled brother. In the beginning of the story, Brother is beyond excited to have a sibling, but when he finds out that he is not what he considers normal looking, or physically able, he lashes out. He starts to plan ways that he could actually murder Doodle. One way he wanted to do that was by “smothering him with a pillow.…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When pride came along, it gets in the way, and Brother accidently hurts his brother: the consequences are tragic. Although his past actions may seem otherwise, Brother is innocent His pride proved he loved his brother, as well as all the help he gave Doodle along the way.…

    • 1398 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Short Story Color Essay When you read stories or books, you may notice a particular color shows up whenever a certain type of event occurs. In many stories, the use of the color red is to symbolize or foreshadow events containing dangerous elements or situations. One may not see it at the time, however the color can help a reader predict the outcome of the event. Authors often use this to help the reader understand the ending more clearly.…

    • 514 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Scarlet Ibis Theme

    • 911 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Every step Doodle took towards being more “normal” was because of his brother. “Once I had succeeded in teaching Doodle to walk, I began to believe in my own infallibility, and I prepared a terrific development program for him, unknown to Mama and Daddy, of course. I would teach him to run, to swim, to climb trees, and to fight.” (Hurst 622) He was incredibly egoistic and was at times cruel to Doodle.…

    • 911 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As a result, the narrator serves as a villain by forcing his invalid brother, Doodle, past his limitations,…

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    "The Scarlet Ibis" vs. "Woman with Flower" The decisions we make affect our loved ones in a way that no one can comprehend. Just a small detail that we may think is insignificant can affect us, but more importantly the ones we love. In the story "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst is about a boy and his younger brother with disabilities that eventually dies from surpassing his limits. The poem "Woman with Flower" by Naomi Long Madgett is a about a mother who won't let her child grow and develop by itself.…

    • 829 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The idea that Doodle is different continues to shame Brother. In fact, Brother is so ashamed that his actions cause suffering for Doodle. Brother abandons Doodle. Brother remembers, “The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to nothing was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind with a wall of rain dividing us” (353).…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays