The Scarlet Ibis

Pride is defined as a reasonable or justifiable self respect, delight arising from act, possession or relationship. Both a wonderful and terrible thing. In James Hurst short story "The Scarlet Ibis" Brother recalls his childhood memories of Doodle and growing up in a cotton farm during the start of World War I. Brother remembers Doodle with some regret as his pride had both built a potent bond between the two brothers, but had also fatefully separated them apart forever. The narrator's ignorant pride and Doodle's disabilities teaches Brother the meaning of pride, and motivates him with shocking results. Brother encouraged and helped Doodle in so many ways, but he also harmed him and put him in danger. Brother's pride had both a great affect and a bad affect in the story.

Brother's pride had a great positive effect on the story. Brother pushed Doodle to the limits which made Doodle stronger, more confident, and helped him live as long as he did. "Oh yes you can, Doodle. All you have to do is try. Now come on" encouraged Brother as he taught Doodle to walk. Pride became something addicting to the narrator which pursued him to teach Doodle more and more. "Once I had succeeded in teaching Doodle to walk, I began to believe in my own infallibility, and prepared a terrific development program for him, unknown to Mama and Daddy of course" Doodle also believed in his brother. He trusted him, loved him, and Brother loved Doodle. "But all of us must have something or someone to be proud of and Doodle had become mine" states the narrator in the story. Brother had made Doodle and helped him survive. Even though Brother's pride helped Doodle, it also destroyed him.

Brother's pride had also caused the great negative turn pint in the story. "So I won't have to haul you around all the time" Brother told Doodle. It was really the only reason he wanted Doodle to learn to walk. His own selfishness had caused him to make his disabled brother put the pressure on his weak body and life just so he wouldn't have to hall Doodle everywhere. "I made him swim until he turned blue and row until he couldn't lift an oar, wherever I went I walked fast, and although he kept up, his face turned red and his eyes became glazed. Once he could go no further, so he collapsed on the ground and began to cry". Brother pushed Doodle too much. He needed