The Literary Analysis of the Scarlet Ibis

Contexual Information - Part 2

Another factor that personally aided me in understanding this short story completely was the background information on the scarlet ibis, and discovering that the animal was far, far from its true home, and only ended up in Brother's house, because the hurricane in the story blew it there. Connecting the death of the bird to Doodle's helped me understand the true meaning(s) of the story and the similarities between the fatalities. Both died alone, and "far" from their real home, because they were trying to overcome the many obstacles which they just simply couldn't. Doodle died from over exhaustion from trying to keep with Brother's speed, while the scarlet ibis also suffered from the same conditions, but from attempting to get through/survive the hurricane that brought it to its final resting spot. The whole story was revolved around the identical deaths of Doodle and the scarlet ibis, based on Brother's narrative and experiences, since he is "telling" the story himself.

The Literary Analysis of The Scarlet Ibis

Created By: Samuel Solis - Period: 4

Synthesis

My final analysis for "The Scarlet Ibis," that I found, were the way that the narrator used the time era (the 1910s) themes (death, guilt, and pride), and the personalities of the characters, to use to his advantage while creating the story. The setting that the story took place in, helped make it easier to comprehend why the doctor in the story could never give the Armstrong family a sure answer, since he probably had is doubts and lacked much of the information of heart limitations, since knowledge of these things were small in number (due to the fact that they hadn't been discovered yet!). Along with this, the recurring themes, of blame, guilt, and pride, are brought up often, to fully help get the author's ideas across/provide "depth" to and for the characters in the story...it can build them up or break them down as the story goes. Lastly, the personalities of the character help the reader define them as who they really are, which play a huge role in the story. For example, from the beginning I can see that Brother has a non-tolerant attitude, while Doodle is an innocent child who is basically forced to listen to his older brother.

Question #3

How did Brother cope with Doodle's death....was he just sympathetic for a little bit then let it go, or is he still "beating himself up" for his mistakes?

Answer: I was thinking that Brother had a long and hard time coping with the innocent death of Doodle. My reasoning behind this, is that when Brother returned to the spot where Doodle lie dead, he said that "it seemed like ages" that he was there guarding his "fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of the rain." At last he realized the opposite, negative side of pride, all of his mistakes, and finally felt true emotions for his sibling. During the beginning of the story, when Doodle has been dead for quite some time, when he is remembering him, I believe that he still feels guilt/shameful for his prideful acts (and still blaming himself for Doodle's death), but by then he has learned his lesson, so he knows won't repeat his mistakes over again.

1st Personal Reaction

After I finished reading "The Scarlet Ibis," I thought that Brother was a crazy, prideful, irresponsible, and intolerant person. However, when doing annotations and dialectic journals, which required me to analyze the true meaning of the story more in depth, I came to a conclusion that Brother was forcing Doodle to do the "normal" things that "everyone" does, as a way to show that Brother looks after him, and wants to protect him. He believes people at Doodle's school to be able to work and get along with his smaller brother if he is what he sees as an average person, with no problems/disabilities.

Contextual Information - Part 1:

One of the most helpful things that helped me comprehend "The Scarlet Ibis" was knowing what time period the story took place in...the 1910s. This helped me realize that the knowledge of heart disabilities, or other physical abilities was extremely limited at the time, which explained why the "doctor" was always contradicting himself, and never giving Brother's family a straight/clear answer. It also demonstrated why Brother did not truly understand Doodle's limits when he was alive. He might have been confused on his brother's capabilities, which lead him to overestimate them, causing his demise.

2nd Personal Reaction: My 2nd reaction to "The Scarlet Ibis" was how Brother's parents in the beginning of the story seemed like they couldn't care less about Doodle, EVEN if he was going to die or not. I would think that the parents of a "sick" child would spend the majority of their time with it, caring for it, until it died. I thought that their action of commanding someone to build a small mahogany coffin for Doodle, was a bit intense , and in my opinion, seemed to show that they had time for other things but their newborn. However, there was at least one person that had hope in the baby's survival, which was Aunt Nicey. Some people may or may not agree with me, but I just found it interesting why Brother's parents made the decisions that they made in the story...

Key words & Phrases - Part 3

Literary Devices - Part 3

Quote: (Page 2) " Renaming my brother was perhaps the kindest thing I ever did for him, because nobody expects much from somebody called Doodle" - Brother

James Hurst uses the characterization of Brother to show that he is ashamed that he couldn't have done more for Doodle while he was still alive. He even says that nobody expects much from somebody named Doodle," so Brother strives to make his little brother do things which in reality he just cannot do. Brother wants Doodle to be normal, as he, his family, and the "rest of the world" is. However, to due to the lack of technology, communication, and information, during that time period, Brother could not realize just how fragile Doodle was, and that he was lucky to live when he was born in the first place...

Quote: (Page 3) "I did not know pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death." - Brother

Impact on Plot/Main Themes: There are good and bad sides to nearly everything in the world, and pride is one them that does. Brother demonstrates that pride has two sides when he pushes himself to reach his goal of teaching Doodle to walk again. he succeeded in changing Doodle's life around, as he no long needed to be hauled in a cart everywhere he went. However, Brother's pride goes too far, wanting Doodle to more than just walk...he wanted him to run, climb, fight, etc., which his heart couldn't take, resulting in his death.

Literary Devices - Part 2

Quote: (Page 1) "He was born when I was six, and from the outset, he was a disappointment."

The author incorporates themes and traits of hopelessness, symbolism, and suspense to add emotion to "The Scarlet Ibis," and make it seem like Doodle will not survive. However, after it is discovered that he lives, despite what the doctors have been saying, gives his personally unique traits of perseverance and strength to overcome his disabilities. Even further into the story, the doctors also say that Doodle trying to stand up/crawl, will take too much energy out of him and kill him...but that turned out to be just a myth just as well. Doodle shows to his family that his is strong enough to overcome a lot of his obstacles, whether they "accept" him as a family member or not.

Intertextual Connections - Part 1

Notes

Connected Media: "The Cask of Amontillado"

Reasoning: Although "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Scarlet Ibis" have their differences, they both have similar post event endings when the "protagonists" Montresor and Brother have realized the mistakes they have committed are wrong, and are ashamed/embarrassed for what they have done. During the end of "The Cask of Amontillado," the author (Edgar Allen Poe) uses the death of Fortunado, to in a way mentally affect Montresor's mind, as he seemed to show uneasiness as he created his enemy's tomb, and heard his dying screams.

Question #2

Key Words and Phrases - Part 2

Quote: (Page 2) "Finally, one day, after many weeks of practicing, he stood alone for a seconds." - Brother

Impact on Plot/Main Themes: This specific quote plays a huge role in the plot, as well the recurring theme of pride. After Doodle can stand up long enough, it is shown that he transformed physically by finally overcoming his obstacles. On the other hand, Brother changes mentally, as he discovers his true power as a "teacher," which makes him become extremely prideful person. The more prideful he becomes when he is with Doodle, he makes unwise decisions that eventually lead to Doodle exceeding his limitation, which leads to his demise/death.

How might have the story changed if Doodle survived the "last trials" that Brother had for him and started school? Would Brother still push him to limits to make him what he believed to be "normal"?

Answer: In my opinion, I think that if Doodle didn't die similarity to the scarlet ibis, all alone, he would have gone to school, and kids would not bully him as much as they would if Brother never taught him how to walk. He might get judged a bit for his small differences, but remember at this point, if Doodle was alive, he would be able to walk normally, run (short distances), somewhat row, and swim [but not very well]. Along with this, Brother would have probably sought out to continue to train Doodle, despite of his near-death experiences, and his pleads for him to have mercy.

Literary Devices - Part 1

Quote: (Page 3) "They did not know that I did it for myself ; that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all the other voices and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother."

James Hurst, the author, uses the "manipulation" of pride, "internal conflict", and forms of imagery, to add meaning to the story, by showing how trapped Brother is in his own little "game" of trying to make Doodle do the things he cannot. Brother expects too much from Doodle, and still makes him run, row, swim, etc., and although he pleads to Brother to have mercy on him, Brother ignores him, which leads to his death.

Intertextual Connections - Part 2

Connected Media: The Giver

Reasoning: I found the book "The Giver" similar to "The Scarlet Ibis" due to the identical bonds between Brother and Doodle/The Giver and Jonas. In the "The Giver," it takes time for Jonas to accept the new mentor he assigned to, The Giver, since he is uncomfortable at first, for being the "Receiver of Memory" and having to learn about the pains and weaknesses of the world, but also the joys of it (color, sports, etc). However, similar to Brother and Doodle, both start to get used to each other, but do not necessarily agree or accept with themselves.

Question # 1

Intertexual Connections - Part 3

What did Brother's parents do to Brother of they discovered that Doodle was dead? Did they find out that Brother was guilty of his murder, or did his death remain a mystery to everyone but Brother?

Answer: I personally believe that Brother's parents will most likely blame Brother for Doodle's death, whether they find out that he killed him or not. After all, Doodle was Brother's responsibility and pride...Brother was supposed to protect/care for his young sibling, and protect him from the world, not drive him past his limits and technically killing him.

Connected Media: The Hunger Games

Reasoning: I believed that "The Hunger Games" had key elements during the beginning of the story, which was the connection between family members similar to the beginning of the story of "The Scarlet Ibis." In the first part of "The Scarlet Ibis," which is really the end/epilogue, Brother speaks of how he wishes he had the "brotherly" connection between himself and Doodle when he had the chance, before he died. In the Hunger Games, the main protagonist, Katniss, has already developed a special bond with her sister, and even offers herself up as a tribute, then let her die in the hands of the other "hunters". On the other hand, by the time that Brother realized how much Doodle truly meant to him, it was much too late, and Doodle was already dead.

Key Words & Phrases - Part 1

What are Key Words & Phrases? - Key Words & Phrases can be quotes or details from the story that help the reader interpret the story, its theme, and its plot...

Quote: (Page 1)"...so I began to make plans by smothering with a pillow.." - Brother

Impact on Plot/Main Themes: This quote helped with the themes of shame and blame since it is in a way shocking on how a six year was already having thoughts of murdering his extremely vulnerable brother. When "Brother" is remembering about Doodle years after his death, he is most likely filled with remorse and guilt after realizing that he prevented his brother from living his life, because he felt that the world was not ready to face a young boy with many disabilities.