Doodle's Brother At First In The Story example essay topic

402 words
The short story "The Scarlet Ibis", by James Hurst was about a boy named William Armstrong, and his brother. William Armstrong was crippled when he was born and he cannot walk. His brother than calls him doodle, because that name would fit him better. But as Doodle got older, and every time his brother has to go somewhere, he would have to take doodle with him too. His brother got annoyed so he taught doodle how to walk.

Doodle's brother didn't teach doodle how to walk because he felt sorry for him, but because of his reputation. Doodle's brother at first in the story does not really care about him. "It was bad enough to have an invalid brother" (200) shows that he sees Doodle as invalid, useless and crippled. Doodle's original name was William Armstrong, but his brother changed it to Doodle because he thought that William Armstrong definitely did not fit his personality. The person that disagreed was Doodle's Aunt and she thought that William Armstrong was better. Doodles Brother was very strict.

He kept making doodle walk when he was born not to. But somehow he managed to teach him. "When Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed to have a brother who couldn't walk, so I set out to teach him". (204) Doodle's brother did not feel sorry for Doodle because he cannot walk. Doodle's brother did it for his reputation because like he said, it was embarrassing. Finally at the end of the story, Doodle's brother finally learns to love his brother for his personality.

As he died later on in the story he cried his heart out because they have been so much together. Doodle's brother forgot about his reputation and taught him to swim, walk, and fight because he wanted to. Doodle's brother personality was strict at first but as he got to know his brother better later on in the story, he finds out that he truly cares and loves his brother very much. "I screamed above the pounding storm and threw my body to the earth above his. For a long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain" (214). This quote shows that Doodle's brother shows love for Doodle..