Expectations In The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst

Response to “Scarlet Ibis” A expectation is what is giving to a person and is expected to be done or seen. There is a quote that goes, “Not everything will go as you expect in your life, This is why you need to drop expectations and go with the flow of life”. A short story that compares to this quote is “The Scarlet Ibis”, written by James Hurst when in this story the narrator had high expectations for such a weak, disabled person.

By employing the use of conflict and similes, the author reveals Doodle’s determination and fragility. The use of conflict shows how Doodle is determined because the struggle for him to please his brother empowers him to overcome his physical disabilities. Doodle’s brother himself

In the short story “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst indirectly characterizes the narrator as a selfish, immature brother, mostly from the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, to demonstrate the idea that pride leads one to falsely believe in their infallibility, which results in them making regrettable decisions and hurting themselves as well as others. The narrator is portrayed to have an excessive amount of pride on the surface, but deep down, he knows of his flaw and suppresses it from his elders. “...I planned a terrific program for him, unknown to Mama and Daddy, of course.” After he teaches Doodle to walk, he concludes that his ‘methods’ of forcing Doodle to walk are effective, so he is determined to prepare Doodle for school by teaching

In “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst shows that one should not take the easy way out by submitting to one’s obstacles because in the end, it won’t be worth it. “I heaved him up again collapsed… ‘I just can’t do it.’ [Doodle says]” (Hurts 598). An example of the theme is when Doodle submits to his obstacle, which is his brother setting a goal for him he doesn’t care to achieve. By not facing his problems, The narrator’s younger brother’s problems get worse, and somewhat lead to his death.

He considers himself incapable of failing at even the hardest task, and so he pushed Doodle far beyond what the little boy can handle. He doesn’t think he needs any oversight by their parents either. Brother’s pride has completely overtaken his thinking at this point and the “terrific plan” he thinks up is going to kill his little brother. Their parents will only discover what’s happening when it’s too late. Even knowing this, Brother continues to push Doodle beyond his limits for his own selfish pride.

In the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst conveys his theme to the readers in order to discuss the issue of pride and how having too much pride can negatively impact another individual. Within the story, James Hurst brings forward his message when Brother is beginning to teach Doodle how to walk at Old Woman Swamp. After some innumerable attempts Brother feels a strong urge to give up but his pride over Doodle would not let him give up. Shortly after Brother starts thinking to himself, “I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.” (170-172)

The expectations of Doodle's family and society that he should be normal and physically capable led to his brother's insistence on teaching him how to walk, even if it meant pushing Doodle beyond what he could handle. Doodle's inability to walk is not something he believes in himself; rather, it is a limitation imposed on him. In this case, the pressure set to meet societal

The narrator explains how he brought Doodle everywhere, pulling him in a cart and never leaving him behind, which sets him up as caring. But, the author soon reveals more about the narrator as he shows us the first act of pure cruelty the narrator does- shows Doodle his own coffin. The pure relentless nature the narrator shows as he taunts the fact of Doodle’s almost death as an infant sets up the understanding of just how much the narrator is affected by pride to the reader, showing his own desires take over and get this best of him. The narrator states in the text “...I wanted more then anything else to race to Horsehead Landing, someone to box with…” setting his own expectations for doodle. But since Doodle cannot fully live up to these expectations, the narrator grows insecure over Doodle’s own disability, making his pride take over and causing the narrator to be cruel to his brother

He is the accidental killer of his brother pushed to this state by his and societies best and worst qualities. The Brother (the narrator) is compelled to teach and kill Doodle by the two pillars of his character; and the character of man: ambition and arrogance. The narrator is annoyed from the beginning of Doodle’s birth, he holds only contempt for his new sibling. Not because he does not want a sibling, but because he wants one the that can lend to his ambitions and further his goal of progress and greatness.

Though Doodle continued to practice and get back up, “Doodle told them it was I (Brother) who had taught him to walk” (468). Even if Doodle had done most of the work, he altruistically gave his brother the credit for his accomplishments. By doing so, this gave the trait of selflessness to Doodle. When summer began, Brother “made him swim until he turned blue and row until he couldn't lift an oar” (471). Though Doodle was in pain, he continued to do what he was told in order to please his brother.

Brother, just like any child or adult who was given praise, swelled up. Brother was determined that he would conquer all that was lacking in Doodle and there would be no disparities in Doodle compared to him or others shortly. All of Brother’s dreams and aspirations for his younger sibling came with a deadline and Brother thought all was to be taught and learned by the time Doodle could attend school. Days spun away and like a spell, it was only a week before Doodle begun leafing through books with other children, but he was immensely behind Brother’s schedule. Brother, too welled up with pride would not stop at any cost and still gave to hopeful thoughts that Doodle would be able to do all before the bells of school freshly rung.

I. Introduction Attention Getter Before becoming a writer, James Hurst was young engineer, but, he switched to a musical career. During his musician days, he auditioned for the opera;however, he failed and supported himself as a writer and night bank clerk. “The Scarlet Ibis,” was first published in the Atlantic Monthly, where he made his writing debut with his touching story between the two brothers.

Brother put lots of his time, effort, and care into Doodle even though "It's a miracle [he] didn't give up" (Hurst). His efforts showed the pride he had, or at least wanted to have in his younger sibling; even if it was rooted in selfishness. Pride is what motivated Brother to help him, though he wished it was his family which gave him the grit to always push Doodle to success. Brother

Losing Doodle “It's okay to lose your pride over someone you love. Don't lose someone you love over your pride. ”(Unknown) Pride is a powerful thing. It can kill and raise up, it can keep you from admitting your wrong.

At first the narrator sees Doodle as a crazy frail brother but as we move into the story, we can observe a lot of varying feelings brother has towards Doodle. Brother described Doodle as unbearable, an invalid brother, a brother who was not there at all, so he started