Insanity In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst

People often associate murder with psychopaths and sociopaths, whom out of malice and corruption, brutally torture their victims to death. While this cliché is over portrayed in fictional thriller stories, it is not the case for all murders. Most criminals have reasons. Occasionally, the criminal defendant is found to have been innocent by reason of insanity. There are multiple branches of morality to consider before deeming one accountable for their own actions. In James Hurst’s short story, “The Scarlet Ibis,” Doodle’s death is seen as the direct consequence of Brother’s bitter disregard to his disabilities. However, there is yet still light to shed on his defense. Brother’s behavior and actions are caused by deeper feelings of emotional

In attempt to teach Doodle how to accomplish activities that normal children can do, Brother has a conversation that reveals an important notion. He asks Doodle, “Do you want to be different from everybody else when you start school? Does it make any difference? [Doodle replies] It certainly does [Brother declares]” (lines 254-256). Without doubt, Brother has a strong desire to fit in and feels a lot of pressure not to be recognized as different. This triggers an important problem concerning the community. It is heavily implied that the environment Brother lives in does not support lack of diversity nor individuality. Although Brother often mistreated Doodle in his attempts to belong in society, Brother was only a juvenile at the time. Disappointed he didn’t have a sibling who could run, wrestle, and play with him as he had originally hoped, Brother states, “It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began to make plans to kill [Doodle] by smothering him with a pillow” (lines 39-41). Brother was only six years old at the time. He was acting how most boys his age do when confronted with something uncomfortable, like a disabled younger sibling. In fact, when a child at the age of six is as shameful to the extent which he is willing to kill his brother in order

Doodle’s heart condition is the main cause that eventually leads to his death. From the very beginning, he was very weak and fragile. “Trembling, [Doodle] would push himself up, turning red, then a soft purple, and finally collapse back onto the bed like an old worn-out doll” (lines 47-49). Relative to only being a baby at the time, his condition’s disadvantages soon catches up with him at an escalating rate. Doodle’s inability to do activities normal kids his age would be able to do only increases. Some may argue even though Doodle was very weak from the start, Brother could have been more sensitive to his circumstance in order to prolong his existence for the time being. However, with the lack of knowledge in the early twentieth century about heart disease, Doodle’s condition undergoes insufficient management. Even the doctor is unexperienced in his recommendations of care. “The doctor said that with [Doodle’s] weak heart [the strain of lying on his stomach] would probably kill him, but it didn't” (lines 46-47). After Brother proves the doctor wrong, especially after teaching Doodle to walk, he begins to believe his own infallibility. This is held accountable for much of Brother’s misunderstanding about Doodle’s limitations. Brother could not have comprehended the extent of suffering he had caused to Doodle. If Brother had known that Doodle was capable of more than the doctor said, but still deficient, disaster would have been