The Scarlett Ibis

"The Scarlet Ibis"

Having a younger brother or sister is hard, but having a crippled one is even harder. In James Hurst's "The Scarlet Ibis," the big brother finds it difficult to have a crippled brother. The big brother takes on a lot; he tries to make his brother normal. While doing so, he begins to let his pride take over and becomes very sad in the process. As the big brother grew older he learned more, but for Doodle life wasn't that way.

As the big brother, he has to haul Doodle around. After getting tired of being Doodles personal chauffeur, he decides to teach Doodle to walk. "But all of us must have something or someone to be proud of, and Doodle had become mine" The big brother said this and it seems to me to be a positive aspect of pride. It just sounds like he is proud to help his little brother. "I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death." It is now that his pride seems to be a positive thing. If he didn't have pride, he might not be teaching him to walk. Doodle tries to convince his big brother that he is not able to walk or stand on his own.

Doodle and his brother surprise the family; Doodle finally learns to walk. They did not know that he had taught Doodle how to walk for his self. Doodle walked only because he was ashamed of having a crippled brother. The big brother has too much pride, which causes him to be mean to his brother.

Doodle is very kind hearted and is a very sensitive person. The family is having dinner, when a croaking noise interrupts. Doodle makes his way to the yard, and discovers a great big red bird. The bird is a scarlet ibis; a storm brought the bird from the tropics. Doodle buries the bird, and after doing that the two brothers decide to go to Horsehead Landing. The big brother still has a lot to teach him, so he will be prepared for his first year of school. When the boys reach Horsehead Landing the weather has changed; it is now about to begin to storm. The storm is coming nearer and nearer, and the big brother decides to run. The big brother heard his little brother's cry but didn't go back to rescue him. He ran and could no longer hear his longing brother call for help. He then decides to run back an try to rescue him, only to be stopped by a tragedy. Doodle is huddled