My Reflection on the Scarlet Ibis

I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death (Hurst 3).

This quote said by the narrator shows how many memories it brings back from Doodle. This is stated by the narrator also because he wants to say that pride is brought to be proud of something that is done or by someone, but the cause can  be two, which is by doing a substance that is unacceptable or a substance that is with quality.

Jame Hurst's in The Scarlet Ibis is a short story which shows how one brother teaches his disabled brother to , but at the end of the story, it shows how the narrator let his pride force him into sacrificing the ones that he loves and shows guilt by leaving his brother in the storm to die. When the narrator and Doodle went to the Horsehead Landing and there was a storm. Doodle screams for his brother to not leave him, but his brother does not listen. Doodle tells his brother this when his brother left him behind the storm because the narrator thought Doodle failed his expectations. The narrator left his brother because he was embarrassed by him, but when he does not hear Doodle's screams anymore, he shows worry that something might have happened to him. The quote also represents that he left his brother in the storm because he wanted his brother to overcome his fear, but with the cause of his brother's death. The narrator feels embarrassment by his brother, but what he does, he does not see the consequences it will cause him and the regret.

James Hurst represents the idea of pride and guilt which pushes the narrator to cause his brother harm in order to  have someone play with him. Pride is what inspires people to accomplish acceptable points, and yet pride also causes people to behave foolishly, and also the guilt that is shown by the narrator for what has happened to Doodle.

For example, the narrator shows his pride by stating, when he constantly has been pushing Doodle to do things that he can not and is incapable of doing, but did it for his own selfish reasons. The doctor had given warnings of not making Doodle do any physical movements, but the narrator did not even listen to any of the instructions given by the doctor.

 The doctor has told the parents to not turn Doodle on his stomach because the narrator states , The doctor said that with his weakheart the strain would probably kill him, but it didn't (Hurst 1).

This demonstrates pride because the narrator does the exact opposite of what was told by the doctor and does not even stop him from doing what he does to Doodle.

For example, the narrator did not once even care because he always thought of his brother as a burden and embarrassment to him, so the narrator would do the opposite of what he was told to his brother. When Doodle was taken care by his brother, he would make Doodle do more of physical movements and not listen to the doctors.

The narrator would even state, To discourage his coming with me I'd run with him across the end of the cotton rows and careen him around corners on two wheels. Sometimes I accidentally turned him over (Hurst 2).

This illustrates how reckless and selfish the narrator was towards Doodle and he uses his pride to get his brother to run and play because he only wanted someone to play with him.

 For example, the narrator felt guilt when he forced Doodle to open his own casket and since Doodle's death was shocking it adds more memories to the narrator of guilt and most of all is that he thinks he did something wrong.

The narrator feels guilt when he says He was born when I was six and was, from the outset, a disappointment (Hurst 2).

This words he uses for his brother illustrates that the narrator knew that his brother has a disability and it was harsh of the narrator to say this, but  if Doodle has been living a longer life than the brother might've seen his mistakes.

For example, the narrator feels guilt when he left Doodle behind the storm. When he left Doodle behind he did not think of any his consequences. The narrator states, Doodle was frightened of being left (Hurst 6). The narrator knew that Doodle has always feared of being alone, but it shows that he might of have felt guilty because for leaving Doodle back and the cause of Doodle's death.For example, the narrator feels guilt when he has said that his brother was a disappointment and an embarrassment. He was born when I was six and was, from the outset, a disappointment (Hurst 1).

The narrator knew or felt that he was to harsh on his brother with his words, but he feels guilty because of every thought he has had of Doodle. Guilt is shown how it influences many remember their lives and it shows how it impacts Doodle's live.  Overall pride and guilt is shown in the Scarlet Ibis because the narrator has let his pride get over himself that he has lost his brother and now feels the pain of losing someone he has loved, but never has shown it.

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