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Theme Of Death In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst

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James Hurst, the author of “The Scarlet Ibis,” uses death or the talk about death to foreshadow Doodle’s, the main character, passing. Death is a keynote in the story. The beginning of the story starts with the near death of Doodle. As the story develops, you get more of an aspect of death. The story talks about rotting trees. People know when something is rotten, it is dying. Doodle was rotting throughout the story. He just didn’t show it. He was a very curious, bubbly boy. It states in story, (169)“...but was a nice crazy, like someone you meet in your dreams.” When Doodle saw the dead Ibis, the readers grasped more of the idea of death. I think when Doodle picks up the Ibis, it was a turning point for the story. I related the Ibis to Doodle

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