The Scarlet Ibis By James Hurst: Paragraph Analysis

Thukral 1
Jasneet Thukral
Mrs. Peck
Lit/Writing 5
15 September 2014
Response to Literature Formative Assessment Paragraph
Title
“The Scarlet Ibis,” by James Hurst uses the narrators inner conflict to convey the theme that pride, although essential at times, is a destructive, overpowering force that enslaves one and blinds them from making the right judgment. When one thinks about pride, one may think of a feeling of satisfaction derived from one’s achievement and excellence. In this story, however, Hurst portrays that pride is a weapon that should be kept under strict constraints. The story is told through the perspective of a grown man, who shares his memories about Doodle, his younger brother. The narrator, who Hurst only describes as “Brother,” is an outgoing and audacious, young boy. As a 6-year-old living in the rural, he dreadfully sought someone to accompany him through his adventures, a younger brother. However, when he discovers that his young brother is born physically disabled, he is shattered, his dreams crushed like a can of soda. Brother rages, “It was bad enough having an invalid brother, but having one who possibly wasn’t all there was unbearable, so I began to make plans to kill him by smothering him with a pillow.” In this part

Brother feels disgraced about being related to Doodle. He feels as if his self-pride has been demolished by having an, “Invalid brother,” who, “possibly