William Armstrong Farewell To The Heart Analysis

This story is a remembrance of the author’s younger brother, William Armstrong. It happens in a rural area, near a coastline during the separation of summer and autumn. William Armstrong known as Doodle is born handicapped. He is expected to be deceased. His father even got him a little mahogany coffin but he lives. The author has plans to murder Doodle but abandons them as he realises that Doodle is intelligent. The story focuses on the author’s complicated feelings towards Doodle. Sometimes, he enjoys Doodle’s company. He brings Doodle to the most beautiful place he knows, Old Woman Swamp. Other times, he is cruel to Doodle. He shows Doodle the little mahogany coffin and threatens to leave Doodle alone. He teaches Doodle how to walk out …show more content…
This story conveys the message that being proud of ourselves and other people’s accomplishment is a good thing but pride can be catastrophic too. “Mama, he smiled. He’s all there! He’s all there!” is a positive example of pride. The author thought that Doodle was not only physically but mentally impaired but he thought wrong. The author was about to murder Doodle when he looked straight at the author and grinned. He realised that Doodle is intelligent and was ecstatic. He rejoiced at the fact that Doodle was not entirely deficient. He was so excited that he skipped down the echoing halls while shouting about the great news. “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.” is negative example of pride. The author was embarrassed about Doodle’s impairment. Therefore, he decided to teach Doodle how to walk. His embarrassment overpowers his love for Doodle. He thinks he can never be proud unless Doodle is cured. “I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and dead.” shows readers the two sides to the author’s pride. His pride could have made him achieve his goals but it became harmful as he forgets about his end goal, to cure Doodle. His pride could have helped but it made him lose sight of what is most important, Doodle’s well …show more content…
After the author successfully teaches Doodle to walk, I thought that Doodle is going to make an even better progress. I thought that he was going to be able to run, jump, climb trees and row boats like any other kid. And that the author and Doodle are going to live happily ever after. Instead, the author’s pride took away any chances of Doodle being cured because he focused on his selfish goals not Doodle’s best interest. Doodle tragically died as the author finally realises how foolish he was. The part where the Scarlet Ibis landed on their yard is my favourite part. I feel like the author is comparing it to Doodle or even foreshadowing his fate. I think the bird being injured is being compared to Doodle’s disabilities and it’s death might be foreshadowing his. This part made me anticipated as I am very interested in knowing Doodle’s future. The part where the author abandoned Doodle is my least favourite part. The author should not have deserted Doodle during the storm. As he was weak and tired ,and could not catch up to the author. Instead of racing back to rescue him, the author just left him there out of sudden rage. The author’s mood swings was the cause of Doodle’s death. I would definitely recommend this story to others because it is thrilling and