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Theme Of Selfish Pride In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst

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Selfish choices and behaviors can have a harmful and unfortunate ending for others. This idea is made clear when two brothers face complications in their relationship. In “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, one's selfish pride is displayed by character development and an ironic resolution. The selfish mindset of the narrator helps his younger brother develop an ability that no one believed he could ever demonstrate. Resulting in, the narrator helping his younger brother, but “he did it for [himself], that pride.”(3). The older brother only guides Doodle for the narrator's own selfish reasons. The narrator didn’t think Doodle was enough, resulting in him attempting to change his younger brother into a “normal” person. Doodle only “walked because” the narrator “was ashamed of having” a brother that was “crippled.”(3). Even though Doodle developed the ability to walk, the narrator was teaching him …show more content…

When the brothers’ plans do not go as expected a “streak of cruelty within [the narrator] awakened,” running as fast as he could “leaving [Doodle] behind.”(6). Both Doodle and his brother worked extremely hard so that Doodle would be able to attend school. But when their proposition didn’t go according to the plan the narrator reacts negatively, leaving his poor helpless brother behind. After the narrator’s episode he “lifted [Doodle’s] head. Limply,” it returned back to where it was positioned. Doodle “[was] bleeding from [his] mouth.”(6). The narrator’s selfish actions led to the ironic death of Doodle. Irony is displayed because at the rate Doodle was being pushed it was distinctly unhealthy for his conditions. Making it lucid that he wasn’t going to make it, except the brother’s mind was too clouded with rejection to care. Doodle was being forced to his limit, with his brother abandoning him when he was in such a vulnerable and critical state had a dangerous affect on

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In the story the Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst the narrator knows what he did was wrong. In the end, he realized that his own pride was the downfall for his own little brother. For wanting a normal little brother and not a crippled one. As stated on page 2 “ It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began to make my plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow”. Clearly, in this sentence, it shows that the narrator would rather have no brother at all than having one that is crippled.

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Blood may be thicker than water, but pride can be thicker than both blood and water. Pride can be life or death. Pride can be good or bad. In the story “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst the narrator’s pride ruled over his actions and decisions. The narrator’s pride lead to the death of his little brother, Doodle.

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Here is my evidence. First reason the narrator is guilty of Doodle’s death is because he was ashamed of him. This is clearly shown when brother makes the statement on page 347 “I was ashamed of having a crippled brother.” This clearly shows the narrator's shame in Doodle. Another statement

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Yet again the brother proves his guilt on page 347 stating, in an eerie form, “But all of us must have something or someone to be proud of, and Doodle became mine.” His brother is admitting Doodle’s innocence. Next, the brother gives us plenty of moments that prove his cruel behavior and thoughts during the story. As he goes to give us proof of my statement on page 345, “It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so

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Doodle ended up learning to walk and talk, which shows that he develops throughout the story. As you know, the name of the poem is "The Scarlet Ibis," which you can connect to the rage and redness of Doodle's brother wanting to kill him. Doodle is very weak he seemed all head with a tiny body that was red and shriveled like an old man. Everybody thought he was going to die—everybody except Aunt Nicey, who had delivered him.

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His hand, trembling, reached out, and when he touched the casket, he screamed.(4)" His brother is very uncaring, and dismisses it as nothing. Doodle is, however, willing to do this if it means his sibling does not leave him. This willingness and drive to be a people-pleaser is a factor of his death.

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Losing Doodle “It's okay to lose your pride over someone you love. Don't lose someone you love over your pride. ”(Unknown) Pride is a powerful thing. It can kill and raise up, it can keep you from admitting your wrong.

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Narrator runs ahead, leaving Doodle behind. When Narrator realizes that Doodle hasn't come home yet, he goes back and discovers that Doodle died underneath a red nightshade bush. Narrator had put Doodle through too much physical activity, and had ultimately killed Doodle. One reason why Narrator killed Doodle is that he completely disobeyed the doctor's orders. Doodle has survived, but he is still handicapped.

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Brother planned to spend his entire life with Doodle, They "decided that when [they] were grown [they'd] live in Old Woman Swamp and pick dog-tongue" (Hurst). He wanted Doodle to have pride in himself and be able to do everything Brother wanted to do with him. Brother had pride in Doodle since he was first able to stand on his own and walk. He taught Doodle out of his own selfishness, he was ashamed of having an "invalid" brother and wanted to have "someone to race to Horsehead Landing, someone to box with, and someone to perch within the top fork of the great pine behind the barn, where across the fields and swamps you could see the sea" (Hurst). Brother was ashamed of the way he felt and his self-indulgent efforts for Doodle.

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The brother leaves Doodle behind. The brother does this since he wants doodle to take care of himself. He wants to make it where he can do what he wants to do and this is his way of saying that Doodle needs to overcome his disabilities. Then As the brother walks back he finds Doodle dead.

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“The Scarlet Ibis” Literary Analysis Essay As the protagonist unfolds his tale, he paints a picture of himself initially as a malevolent force, planning the smothering death of his crippled brother, to a bully, force-teaching Doodle to walk to satisfy his own ends, and finally a neglectful older brother whose acts lead to Doodle’s demise. It is the central event of his brother’s death that gives full meaning to the title, “The Scarlet Ibis.” In this short story by James Hurst, the author conveys the Narrator’s guilt over Doodle’s life and, more importantly, his death.

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The Scarlet Ibis How did Doodle die? Why did Doodle die? Was it his Brother? Doodle was born a disabled kid who was loved by everybody in his family except his brother (The narrator of this story). The narrator wished for a perfect brother that his would be able to do things with but when he wasn’t given that it caused him to do things that no brother should ever do or think about doing to his younger brother.

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When the storm hits, the two brothers run back to the house but Doodle can not keep up and brother taken over by pride leaves him there alone. That powerful pride that brother has, always breaks his bond with Doodle, after the failed lesson they just had, he gives up on his brother. The narrator, clearly has a lot of things going on inside his head, lost he just leaves him there because of his failure and an inside pride. “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.

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It is the reason the world possesses beauty and the reason it possesses evil. Regardless of one’s personal perception of pride, I believe it is an important topic to explore through literature, current events, and through aspects of our own daily lives. Pride is recurring theme in the aforementioned story, “The Scarlet Ibis.” In the story, the narrator seeks to train his handicapped brother, Doodle, to play like a regular, unafflicted boy.

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That incident is what caused the narrator to attempt to kill his brother by smothering him with his pillow. He does this because he can’t accept that Doodle is not normal. His pride is abolished when he feels shame and embarrassment through his brother’s lack of success in physical activities.

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