Doodle's Dream In The Scarlet Ibis

All humans are guilty of forming unrealistic expectations and ideals of others. When people do not meet these preconceived lists of ideals they are often judged or shooed away. Therefore in order to protect their own pride people often shield themselves from or try to change those who are different, instead of appreciating and accepting them. This was shown in “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, the narrator always dreamed of having a little brother. Finally, his dream came true and his mother had a second child. However, this child, nicknamed Doodle, was born deformed and with a serious heart condition. The entire family accepted Doodle, his disabilities and drastic limitations, except for the narrator. Throughout the next seven years, the
The narrator thought he needed to be fixed because he could perform tasks that other children could such as walking. It was not long until the Narrator became “embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk, so [he] set out to teach him”(160). Almost everyday the narrator would bring Doodle to Old Woman Swamp and try to teach him to walk, despite the fact that Doodle had no intent to do so. Not only did Doodle not want to learn, but he also continuously failed at it. However, the narrator refused to let Doodle be as he was and pushed Doodle even after he declared that “[He] just can’t do it...”(161). Even with Doodle giving up, both mentally and physically, the narrator refused to stop pushing him. He continued to force Doodle to the swamp everyday until he could walk like the other kids. However the narrator's greed for perfection didn’t stop there. After Doodle could walk the narrator wanted him to swim and run. He continued to force Doodle through strenuous activities until they caused his heart exploded. Leaving him dead under a bush. The narrator did this because he was embarrassed of Doodle and determined to make him like the other kids so his pride wouldn’t be
In the “Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst the narrator wanted a brother who could play and run with him. Nevertheless he had a brother with severe disabilities and great limitations. Instead of viewing his brother, Doodle, with love and friendships, he saw him as a mistake that he should fix. After considering murder the narrator decides to try and teach Doodle to be normal. However, he ended up killing Doodle instead. Even though, Doodle’s death greatly saddened the narrator it taught him to accept and appreciate others for who they are, instead of changing