The Symbolic Ibis

Finally, Brother got what he wanted, but he is not satisfied. He is surprisingly destructive and harmful towards the gift he longed for. The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst is a short novel, which may see non-fiction, but it is realistic fiction with strong emotion and feeling. The Scarlet Ibis is a story about a bother who receives a brother, but disabled and how the two brothers go through thick and thin times. Doodle and Brother have a contrasting relationship that is reflect about multiple symbols in the story.

I first notice Brother’s conflicting actions when he is dangerous and harmful toward Doodle, yet protective. He first acts dangerously when he ignores “A long list of don’ts…once they are out of the house” (Hurst 111). For example, this first action is like Paris Green because Paris Green is a harmful poisonous chemical used to kill and in the list of don’ts he must be treated gently. The Paris Green therefore symbolizes the deadly actions and situations Brother puts Doodle in, even though he should be treated gently. I see Brother being protective and caring when, “I [was dragging] him across the burning cotton field to shave with him the only beauty I [know], Old Warren Swamp” (Hurst 111). When Brother took Doodle to Old Woman Swamp the action of bringing doodle was caring and the atmosphere of the swamp is protective and green like the Paris green. In addition, the paris green is also protective feature just like Brother is towards to Doodle. Therefore, the Paris green is a important representative symbol that symbolizes the destructive yet caring actions towards Doodle from Brother.

A second multi-meaning symbol that shows the relationship between Brother and Doodle is the go-cart, which is a burden, yet a freedom. The go-cart is freedom when “At first [Brother] just [parades Doodle] up and down the piazza” (Hurst 110). The go-cart is similar to freedom because the go-cart gives the ability to move to Doodle and lets him feel less restricted from his disability. Although he has freedom with the go-cart he is detained by only where Brother goes. “…it [was ending up] by [Brother] having to lug wherever I went and he [is] a burden in many ways.” These quotes suggest that he was a pain and obviously a burden.