The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst: Literary Analysis

Pride...is something to fear. This quote is directly connected with the story “The Scarlet Ibis”. Brother’s past now haunts him. Pride is a powerful thing and it's not always good.

Pride brings fulfilment to people's lives on the surface, but below the surface it only brings destruction. In the short story, “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, the author present this idea through his excessively prideful character, Mathilde Loisel. Mathilde Loisel, an unsatisfied woman, takes all of her perfectly valid possessions to be proud of and throws them away resulting in years of hardship for her and her husband. Mathilde Loisel’s pride is disguised by lovely experiences and luxurious belongings only to be revealed as something of pure destruction. Pride will bring bliss only to later bring destruction.

The family realized that Doodle's disabilities undoubtedly make him different from other people, but this story questions whether these differences even matter. His brother insists and continues to push him right past his breaking point in the interest of conformity. He gives an example of the theme Do not let pride overrule love. A bird called the Scarlet Ibis appears, it forms a strong connection with Doodle. The ibis's death and Doodle's response to it, is the most impactful piece of foreshadowing in the story.

“Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death” (Hurst 2). This is how James Hurst describes pride in his heart-wrenching short story, “The Scarlet Ibis.” What speaks to me most about this quote is its profound truth. For the majority of people, pride is either a positive or negative thing, but what Hurst and I seem to agree about is the fact that pride can be both. It is an undeniable symptom of the human condition, a tool that can either create or destroy, and is responsible for the best and worst parts of history.

Throughout the world, more than eighty five percent of people have or are affected by low self esteem. In the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, it clearly shows the theme that others should not influence all of one’s thoughts and actions. Doodle is a child born with disabilities and his brother, the narrator, supports him and helps him find a place to fit into society and to achieve self-esteem throughout the story. Self-esteem is found negatively and positively in both the narrator and Doodle.

As John C. Maxwell once stated, “There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. ‘Good pride’ represents our dignity and self-respect. ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.” Pride is not always a harmful attribute. People just have to understand the difference between ‘bad pride’ and ‘good pride’.

One day I took him to the barn loft and showed him his casket, telling him how we all believed he would die.” Hurst was upset that Doodle wouldn’t learn to walk so he took Doodle up to the barn loft and showed him his casket, telling him that they all believed he was going to die and he told Doodle to touch the casket or he was going to leave him in the barn loft. In the end when he shows his parents that Doodle can walk Hurst’s dad asked him why he was crying and Hurst says, “ They did not know I did it for myself , that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than their voices, and that Doodle only walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother”. It means that he only showed his brother how to walk because he was ashamed of having a crippled brother. Later when they were walking outside it started to storm so they ran to their house, and Hurst says, “ The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened.

Pride is Ignorance Disability is a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movement, senses, or activities. " The Scarlet Ibis," a short story written by James Hurst, focuses on the relationship between two brothers: the narrator and his disabled brother, Doodle. Doodle is born when the narrator, Brother, is only six years old. Since the narrator is young and does not know how to cope with a situation like this, he plans to kill Doodle. The prideful narrator wants a brother he can play with and is disappointed and embarrassed that he will not be like a regular boy.

In the essays “Pride” by Dagoberto Gilb and “Pride and Humility” by Thomas A. Tarrants, III, D.Min., The authors discuss the same topic but they have a different conclusion. In “Pride,” Gilb conclude that we are all shaped by a strong sense of pride, so we should still be proud of ourself. However, in “Pride and Humility,” Tarrants conclude that pride is basically a sin and it’s the devil’s most effective and destructive tool. Although both authors addressed the same topic in their essay writing and both use their methods to explore the forms of pride, they do so by using viewpoints and different attitudes toward pride.

One of the seven deadly sins is the act of having too much pride. Pride in general is not an evil feeling to have. It is human to have pride in oneself, but having too much pride is unhealthy and will cause problems somewhere along the way. Two characters who show a harmful amount of pride are Sylvia from Toni Bambara’s “The Lesson” and Sammy John Updike’s “A&P”. A famous quotation states “Pride (arrogance) comes before Destruction... and a haughty spirit, before a fall.”

Every person has taken pride in their accomplishments whether it is overcoming adversity or being admired by peers. Having pride provides confidence and belief that any challenge in their lives can be overcome. On the other hand, excessive pride can be detrimental. It may lead a person to become overconfident in their abilities or beliefs and unaware of the harm they may cause towards others with their actions. In the three short stories, “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, and “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson, the authors convey the perils of exorbitant pride.

Grown men are brought to tears with the pride described by Gilb, but at the same time, the feeling can be so graceful and devout through metaphors. Through comprehension, rhetorical devices, and the tone and structure of Gilb’s essay, we can begin to understand the exact meaning the word “Pride” and what the it’s all

If someone has too much pride, then it can cause them make the wrong decisions. Nobody should ever judge a book by the book’s

    In conclusion pride can mean many things and can be shown in many ways. At some point we may be humble. On our way there it may be be more difficult. The concept of pride is like a explantion of how theuniverse started.

Bear Grylls once said “ A man’s pride can be his downfall, and he needs to learn to turn to others for support and guidance.” Gryll’s wise advice can be applied to nearly everyone in society. For example, a man might refuse to use government welfare to buy groceries for his family and let his children starve instead. His pride would destroy the family physically. Pride is a dangerous virtue and can be used to fulfill dreams or destroy them.