Scarlet Ibis <conflict>

Blood is thicker than water, but sometimes pride is thicker than both. Such is the case with James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis." This is a dramatic short story about two brothers, in which the older brother manipulates and is later responsible for the death of his dying younger brother, Doodle. Doodle is Handicap with a week heart and was expected to live no more than 1 year, but he proved everyone wrong. These actions proved that he did love Doodle but was ashamed of him at the same time.

Doodle's brother was never able to accept him for who he was. Even very early in the story, shortly after Doodle was born. His brother's unhappiness with Doodle was mostly because he wanted a brother with whom he could play and run. The thought of a brother who could barely move and probably never walk was embarrassing. He even states, "Nobody expects much from someone called Doodle." (p. ). Brother doesn't except Doodle for who he is and how he's not just another pig in the pen but his brother. Just the fact that Doodle is Handicap and Brother was expecting someone to play with doesn't mean he has to disown him. "They did not know that I did it for myself; that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their voices, and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother." (p. Mistakes can be made and realized also. In this case Brother thought of a way to have a normal brother but he did it for himself and not for Doodle. This proves he was ashamed of his Doodle, but can he prove he loves him too?

Brother thought, "Doodle was my brother, and he was going to cling to me forever, no matter what I did." (p. ). Brother now excepts the fact that Doodle is his brother and will be always and forever in any condition he or Brother may be in. Brother loves Doodle and cares for him so much that he wants him to learn to walk.