The Scarlet Ibis And The Color Red

Deadly, Violent, and Dangerous: The Color Red

Did you know that when reading a story, color could reveal deeper meanings and foreshadow events? If not, then ponder no further, because they can. Color is the key when it comes to foreshadowing stories. Colors often symbolize mood and emotions. In the selections by Hurst, Cofer, and O’Flaherty, the color red often foreshadows negative outcomes such as death, rejection, and war or battle.

To begin, in Hurst’s The Scarlet Ibis, the color red is an indication for the death of one of the main characters, Doodle. There are several items throughout the story that contain the color red, foreshadowing his dreadful death, such as the scarlet ibis that appeared briefly before his dying. “Sadly, we

all looked back at the bird. A scarlet ibis! How many miles it had traveled to die like this, in our yard, beneath the bleeding tree” (page 116). In this single quote, there are two warnings given to the reader when the words “scarlet” and “bleeding” are mentioned. Since both are a variation of the color red, they also work as indicators that there is something unfortunate to come. Another case where red that foreshadows Doodle’s death is when Aunt Nicey, another character in the novel, says, “’Dead birds is bad luck…specially red, dead birds’” (page 117). When Aunt Nicey says that dead birds are bad luck, the reader should infer that something terrible is about to happen simply because the character emphasized it. Although confirming the reader’s inference, she adds “specially red, dead birds”. The author adds the color red to warn us that something awful is to come. In the case of The Scarlet Ibis, it is to warn us of Doodle’s upcoming death.

Again, the color red is also an indicator of unfortunate events in Cofer’s short story, American History.

The color red foreshadows refusal and denial in the story when Eugene’s mother is described. "The red, swollen face of a women appeared. She had a halo of red hair floating over a delicate ivory face," (page 127). The color red can symbolize danger, rejection, fire, blood, war, and violence but it is not limited to these mentioned. In the case of Elena, it foreshadowed the rejection that Elena was about to receive. "Listen. Honey. Eugene does not want to study with you. He is a smart boy. Doesn't need help. You understand me. I am truly sorry if he told you you could come over. He cannot study with you. It's nothing personal. You understand" (page 127). After Elena heard what Eugene’s mother said, she was shocked. Elena had waited a very long time for the moment she would be able to set foot in the house beside her building. She wanted to sit at the table and view the interior of the home that she could only see a glimpse of at her building. Elena did not imagine that this would happen but the reader did. The signs are given when Eugene’s mother was described, a “red, swollen face” and a “halo of red hair.” The author clearly gives the reader hints of the unfortunate

outcome.

Lastly, in Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game, the color red also foreshadows ill-fated events. General Rainsford falls of his yacht and retreats to an island where Zaroff, the head individual over the island, greets him and they continue to go eat. "They were eating borsch, the rich, red soup with whipped cream so dear to Russian palates"(page 32). Here the color red is foreshadowing the upcoming fate of Rainsford. Zaroff eventually challenges Rainsford to a hunt where Zaroff was to hunt Rainsford. If Rainsford survived for three days, he was then allowed to leave the island. This was the only way to leave the island. Therefore, the color red foreshadows the violence, and fighting that would take place during the three days that they hunted. "They would be on him any minute now. His mind worked frantically" (page 41). This is one example from the story where Rainsford is in an upcoming battle with Zaroff during the three hunting days. Rainsford surely did not expect to come to an island and try to be hunted down by a human. Most likely, the reader did not imagine this either. Again, in numerous cases, seeing the color red in a story foreshadows dreadful events that only the reader can predict.

Therefore, in conclusion, the color red has now been proven to foreshadow negative outcomes such as death, rejection, and battle. Hurst, Cofer, and Connell show this when reading the short stories, The Scarlet Ibis, American History, and the Most Dangerous Game. Although, the color red can also show love, passion, or energy, in many cases it still shows war, death, and rejection. Always be aware whenever reading a piece in literature because the color red can foreshadow deadly, violent, and dangerous outcomes.