The Importance Of Love In Hurst's The Scarlet Ibis

C.S. Lewis once quoted, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of, course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” This exemplifies the genuine idea of what pride can do to a soul. Many never fully acknowledge the sincere people who sit around them, and the beauties these individuals hold. Similarly, in Hurst’s, “The Scarlet Ibis,” Doodle’s older brother, the narrator, is driven to push Doodle to succeed in various activities, because he cannot seem to see Doodle’s “inner beauty.” As the thought of making Doodle the best he can be, and displaying his “inner beauty,” eventually leads to a horrific tragedy. To clarify, in “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator is introduced as a conceited,

Turning from a prideful boy to being merciful toward his dead brother. In fact, it all began when his brother was born, “with a tiny body which was red and shriveled like an old man’s” (595). Doodle is weakened and incapable of doing activities normal kids do at his age. The narrator encourages Doodle to keep on pushing, but no sooner does the narrator learn that pushing Doddle over his limitations will sooner or later kill him. The narrator kills Doodle indirectly, as a consequence of the lack of knowledge he has about Doodle’s medical issues, and as said before, being enveloped in pride. After Doodle dies alone in the storm, the reader grasps the “true love” the narrator had for him, which he never expressed toward his younger brother. In the closing paragraph, the narrator reveals his “true love” that was hidden inside him, “ I began to weep, and the tear-blurred vision in red before me looked very familiar. ‘Doodle!’ I screamed above the pounding storm and threw my body to the earth above his. For a long long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain” (604). This quote illustrates the pity the narrator feels and the love that emerges out of his soul, after seeing how much he truly adores Doodle. Therefore, with the unfortunate death of Doodle, it quickly

In the opening of the story, the narrator is ashamed of Doodle, but in time, the narrator develops into a forgiving, loving person. This overall change was sparked by the death of Doodle. His love that was hidden throughout the story, is finally revealed after Doodle dies in the storm. These changes that the narrator undergoes, taught the reader the many consequences that pride can have on someone, and how it can be certainly evil, depending on the circumstances. To recap, C.S. Lewis mentions, “as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you,” which relates to the evilness the narrator obtains throughout the story till the death of his brother. Therefore, within “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator proves to the readers that pride can be an evil, dangerous monster, that destroys individuals mentally and/or