Scarlet Ibis Analysis Essay

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In the story “The Scarlet Ibis”, James Hurst indirectly characterizes Doodle, predominantly through his actions, as ‘coerced’ to illustrate that when one is pushed past their limit, they start to come close to the breaking point[a].To elaborate on that, there are various times in the story when the narrator is seen pushing his brother, Doodle far beyond his limit. For example during Doodle’s development program, the narrator [b]:
[makes] him swim until he turn[s] blue and row until he [can’t] lift an oar. Wherever [they] [go], [the narrator] purposely walk[s] fast, and although [Doodle] [keeps] up, his face turn[s] red

and his eyes [become] glazed. Once, [Doodle] [can] go no further, so he collapse[s] on the ground and [begins] to cry(12).
The narrator tempts Doodle with the idea of being a normal boy in addition to fitting in so much that Doodle finally breaks down.

Given the circumstances that Doodle was a sickly boy, the narrator should pay extra care to him particularly when they perform such physically demanding exercises on his weak body. The narrator also states that this ‘development program’ is kept secret from their parents which only increases the need for his attention. Furthermore, near the end of the story, when they are in a skiff, “[c]Doodle [does] not speak and [keeps] his head turned away, letting one hand trail limply in the water”(16). Doodle’s behavior signifies that he is emotionally distressed. A little later, the narrator makes Doodle row back against the tide which exhausts Doodle even more. Because the narrator is afraid of failing, he chooses to ignore Doodle’s signs, nevertheless pushes Doodle even harder primarily when Doodle is not feeling up to it. If the narrator had been a bit more supportive towards his brother, Doodle would be in a better, more confident state of mind. Instead, the narrator openly expresses his disappointment which only makes matters worse by frightening Doodle. In conclusion, Hurst’s characterization of Doodle shows that when people are pushed too hard, at some point they will be

demoralized.