Sibling Relationships In The Scarlet Ibis, By James Hurst

Sibling relationships are some of the of the toughest and hardest parts of human lives. There could be days of fun and laughter, or they are filled with anger and hate. This is evident in The Scarlet Ibis, a short story by James Hurst. The narrator and his brother, Doodle, seem to have a loving brotherly relationship. However, by the end of the story, the reader is left wondering whether this is an honorable relationship. Hurst creates the complicated character of Brother who came to be described as a loving, helpful, and pleasant sibling. These character traits prove Brother to be a positive influence in Doodle’s life.

Brother is a very loving sibling. For example, when Brother was teaching Doodle to walk on his own, he struggled and “when he fell, I grabbed him in my arms and hugged him, our laughter pealing through the swamp like a ringing bell” (558). Brother is clearly a spectacular sibling. Not many people would have the patients to help teach a disabled kid to stand and walk, but Brother does. This just shows how loving Brother is towards Doodle. Another example is when Brother went and checked to see how Doodle was doing when he was little and sick, and when Doodle smiled at Brother a rush of relief spread throughout his body, “Mama,

For example, while Brother and Doodle start telling lies, Brother realizes that, “yes, I must admit it. Doodle could beat me at lying” (559). Most people want to be better then someone else, but Brother didn’t need to think twice about who could lie better, and Brother happily accepts the fact that Doodle is better than him at that. Brother is a pleasurable and honest sibling. with love and respect, Brother thought that, “Doodle was just about the craziest brother a boy ever had… like someone you meet in your dreams” (555). Brother is a thoughtful sibling. To Brother, just because having a disabled sibling doesn’t mean you can’t explore the world with them. Brother is a delightful