Monday, February 18, 2008

THE SCARLET IBIS: Symbolism & Theme






Before we discuss this in class, here are some points to consider:
  • If you read carefully, you will note that the story of the "Scarlet Ibis" unfolds against the backdrop of World War I. What commentary do you think Hurst is making in this tale?
  • What symbolic connection is there between the scarlet ibis and Doodle?
  • How is color imagery used in this story?
  • Why is the narrator known only as "Brother"?
  • Review the graphic description of Doodle's death at the end of the tale. What has metaphorically happened here?
  • How is the thematic concept of pride relevant to the tale? What theme can you derive from this concept?
  • How about brotherhood?

In the event you have lost your copy of the story, here is a link to an e-text: http://209.184.141.5/westwood/academ/depts/dpteng/L-Coker/VirtualEnglish/Englsih%20I/English%20Ia/scarlet_ibis.htm

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Doodle and the ibis are similar because they both die helplessly. The storm blows the ibis out of its natural habitat, and causes it to function improperly. Doodle was born handicapped and doesn't grow and learn normally.

Anonymous said...

Pride can relate to this story because the brother kept pushing Doodle to learn how to swim, walk and then run only because he did not want a brother that was useless for doing the kind of things that normal brothers would do. In other words, he was too proud to have a brother like Doodle. This eventually leads to Doodle's downfall at the end of the story, where "Brother" doesn't wait for him in the storm.

Miss Arney said...

Does anyone else think this is the saddest story EVER?

ambika said...

This is extremely depressing story :(
The theme of brotherhood relates to this story because a person doesn't have to be another person's actual brother to have a brotherlike friendship with them. When Doodle and his brother run home during the thunderstorm, and Doodle falls, his brother keeps on running. When he comes back, he realizes that Doodle is dead. Like Cristelle said, brother kept on pushing Doodle because of his pride and because he was embarrassed by him. This shows that brother didn't show the characteristics of brotherhood because he left Doodle behind.

Miss Arney said...

Cristelle & Ambika: good insights. How might this idea work against the background of a war?

ambika said...

I'm not sure but I think that brotherhood has something to do with the friendships made between soldiers. In a war, soldiers help one another and look out for each other, something brother doesn't do for Doodle in the story.

ambika said...

Ooooo, maybe the war symbolizes the struggle and challenges that Doodle faces.

Anonymous said...

I think this was the saddest story ever also. I loved the way it was ended though with the conncection of Doodle and the scarlet ibis. The conncection was that the scarlet ibis was in the wrong setting it came from somewhere else and was stuggling to survive in this new area the was Doode was trying to run for his life. They both failed though and were helpless. The scarlet ibis was also red like the blood that was comming from Doodle at the time. They were both pushed too hard and had to give up.

Anonymous said...

This story may also connect to a war because both the scarlet ibis and Doodle lost their battle of life while fighting to survive, and this is what happens to soldiers in war.

Regina said...

I agree with Allison. Doodle and the scarlet ibis both fought for their life, due to the fact that they were both put in difficult situations. The backdrop of the war emphasized that they were fighting for thier life, as soldiers do in battle.

Miss Arney said...

Nicely said, Maureen...don't forget the notion of brotherhood to all humanity - even in war, ladies!

Unknown said...

The fact that "the brother" makes the nickname "Doodle" for his new baby brother proves that a bond has already formed between the two boys. This illustrates the thematic concept of brotherhood.

Erica Guerin said...

I agree with Linsdey, but i can not understand why "brother" thought he was doing something good for Doodle when he changed his name from Willam Armstrong. It is almost ironic because he was supposed to expect nothing from him and he still learned extradionary things that the family never imagined he could ever do.

Anonymous said...

In response to your war comment Miss Arney, I think that during war, many leaders have pride in their countries, soldiers, and their beliefs. "Brother's" pride reflects the pride that a leader of war might have during a battle or during a war in general, so making the story take place during a war puts more emphasis on the theme of pride. Also, my grandpa always says that you can't wait for someone in a battle, you just have to look after yourself. So, when "Brother" leaves Doodle, it also reflects that view of war, which is that sometimes, you have to just worry about yourself and no one else.

Anonymous said...

I think the reason why the narrator was known only as "brother" was because if he had a name that would make make him stand out and become a person we would focus on when the main idea of the story was about Doodle. Also since he was the narrator he wouldn't usually say his own name and he didn't tell us any quotes that someone said his name in. His name really means nothing because Doodle was a name given to him so nothing great was expected of him. The whole picture was that this boy was the brother to a very special person that the narrator wants to remember because he felt he was extremely lucky.

Erica Guerin said...

I dont know why but this story reminds me so much of the movie, "Simon Birch" Simon was born with a birth defect too and was expected to die. It is also funny how Simon and his friend Joe just happen to swim at a lake too in which they enjoy going too. In the beginning Joe took Simon in a little wagon thing attached to his bike, to his baseball game.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! Erica I was thinking the same thing the entire time I read the story. In my head I was picturing Doodle as Simon Birch. Simon Birch was expected to die as a child as Erica said but he didn't. Simon had a friend named Joe who played baseball with him and ran down to the lake with him. In the end of "Simon Birch," Simon dies just like Doodle did after doing something that he couldn't handle. I was thinking this the entire time but never said it aloud.

ambika said...

Erica: I agree with Maureen, thats a really good connection.
Thinking about the movie, I remember Simon saying something about God having a bigger plan for him (something like that). Like Simon, maybe Doodle had a bigger purpose and symbol in the story. From him dying and Brother looking back on his childhood, maybe Hurst thought that Doodle's purpose was to teach his brother about kindness, perseverance, beauty, and hope, which is shown when he says that he sat there sheltering Doodle from the heresy of rain, which Brother probably did out guilt for how he treated Doodle. Brother probably protects Doodle from the rain because of the symbol of the scarlet ibis's red color, similar to Doodle, now that he is dead. Doodle cared for the ibis and they both died the same way. Now, Brother is protecting Doodle, just as Doodle cared for the ibis.

Miss Arney said...

Wow, guys. I love the connections you are making here. I cannot wait to discuss this in class tomorrow :-)

Anonymous said...

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Unknown said...

Thanks guys. This gives meh great information for my English Honors paper.

Anonymous said...

As far as why the narrator only refers to himself as "Brother," I think he is too ashamed to the point where he feels unworthy to have a name, therefor reverts back to "Brother."