Sarah Williams
Ms. Kasyanik
English 9H A2
13 December 2010
The Theme of Selfishness and Resentment
Often the most common thing one thinks of when it comes to siblings is their rivalries. But when these rivalries lead to death, whom, or more
specifically, what is to blame? James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis” leads the reader on a fantastic journey regarding how two rivaling brothers
end up. Since the beginning of the story, the narrator’s brother Doodle is always a disappointment to the narrator himself because Doodle is not a normal
child. However, the narrator still wants Doodle to succeed, and sets unnaturally high goals for him only because the narrator does not want to be
ashamed of having a crippled brother. In the end, Doodle ultimately fails these goals and even dies on behalf of the narrator’s prodding. The narrator
consequently regrets his selfish actions. Because of this, the reader learns that selfishness leads to resentment.
The internal conflict of the narrator plays an important role in how selfishness leads to resentment. The narrator struggles with himself over his
obsession about his brother’s achievements: “They did not know that I did it for myself; that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their
voices; and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother” (Hurst 419). The narrator struggled over the true motivator for
Doodle’s achievement; he knows it is because he only is thinking of himself, which he regrets. Later, when the narrator’s pride leads to his brother’s
death, he finally realizes what he had been doing to Doodle: “I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain” (Hurst 426). The
narrator is upset about his self-absorbed action because it brought about the demise of his beloved brother.
The setting also plays an important role in creating the theme of selfishness and resentment. When the narrator says, “The last graveyard flowers
were blooming, . . . speaking softly the names of our dead,” the reader gets a sense of gloominess, which foreshadows the effects of the narrator’s
actions (Hurst 416). Descriptions of the setting also create conflict: “The rain was coming, roaring through the pines, and then, like a bursting Roman
candle, a gum tree ahead of us was shattered by a bolt of lightning” (Hurst 425). This description of the storm, moments before Doodle’s death, brings to
light the conflict between the narrator’s selfishness and Doodle’s frailness. It also foreshadows the negative result of the conflict.
Finally, irony plays a role in adding to the theme of resentment and selfishness. When the narrator describe that “Doodle told them it was I who
had taught him to walk, so everyone wanted to hug me,” the reader knows that the narrator is only helping Doodle for the wrong reasons, but Doodle
himself does not know this (Hurst 419). This irony contributes to the theme by allowing the reader to fully understand the consequences of the narrator’s
selfishness. Another example of irony is the dialogue between the narrator and Doodle: “‘Don’t hurt me, Brother,’ he warned. ‘Shut up. I’m not going to
hurt you. I’m going to teach you how to walk’” (Hurst 419). The narrator says that he will not hurt his brother, but he does not realize at the time what
the effects of the pride and self-centeredness will have on Doodle.
It is obvious then, that pride and selfishness lead to actions that one resents later. The inner conflict of the narrator, the setting, and the irony in
“The Scarlet Ibis” all point toward the ultimate truth of this theme. So fundamentally, some sibling rivalries do end in death, and selfishness is the true
cause.
Ms. Kasyanik
English 9H A2
13 December 2010
The Theme of Selfishness and Resentment
Often the most common thing one thinks of when it comes to siblings is their rivalries. But when these rivalries lead to death, whom, or more
specifically, what is to blame? James Hurst’s short story “The Scarlet Ibis” leads the reader on a fantastic journey regarding how two rivaling brothers
end up. Since the beginning of the story, the narrator’s brother Doodle is always a disappointment to the narrator himself because Doodle is not a normal
child. However, the narrator still wants Doodle to succeed, and sets unnaturally high goals for him only because the narrator does not want to be
ashamed of having a crippled brother. In the end, Doodle ultimately fails these goals and even dies on behalf of the narrator’s prodding. The narrator
consequently regrets his selfish actions. Because of this, the reader learns that selfishness leads to resentment.
The internal conflict of the narrator plays an important role in how selfishness leads to resentment. The narrator struggles with himself over his
obsession about his brother’s achievements: “They did not know that I did it for myself; that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their
voices; and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother” (Hurst 419). The narrator struggled over the true motivator for
Doodle’s achievement; he knows it is because he only is thinking of himself, which he regrets. Later, when the narrator’s pride leads to his brother’s
death, he finally realizes what he had been doing to Doodle: “I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain” (Hurst 426). The
narrator is upset about his self-absorbed action because it brought about the demise of his beloved brother.
The setting also plays an important role in creating the theme of selfishness and resentment. When the narrator says, “The last graveyard flowers
were blooming, . . . speaking softly the names of our dead,” the reader gets a sense of gloominess, which foreshadows the effects of the narrator’s
actions (Hurst 416). Descriptions of the setting also create conflict: “The rain was coming, roaring through the pines, and then, like a bursting Roman
candle, a gum tree ahead of us was shattered by a bolt of lightning” (Hurst 425). This description of the storm, moments before Doodle’s death, brings to
light the conflict between the narrator’s selfishness and Doodle’s frailness. It also foreshadows the negative result of the conflict.
Finally, irony plays a role in adding to the theme of resentment and selfishness. When the narrator describe that “Doodle told them it was I who
had taught him to walk, so everyone wanted to hug me,” the reader knows that the narrator is only helping Doodle for the wrong reasons, but Doodle
himself does not know this (Hurst 419). This irony contributes to the theme by allowing the reader to fully understand the consequences of the narrator’s
selfishness. Another example of irony is the dialogue between the narrator and Doodle: “‘Don’t hurt me, Brother,’ he warned. ‘Shut up. I’m not going to
hurt you. I’m going to teach you how to walk’” (Hurst 419). The narrator says that he will not hurt his brother, but he does not realize at the time what
the effects of the pride and self-centeredness will have on Doodle.
It is obvious then, that pride and selfishness lead to actions that one resents later. The inner conflict of the narrator, the setting, and the irony in
“The Scarlet Ibis” all point toward the ultimate truth of this theme. So fundamentally, some sibling rivalries do end in death, and selfishness is the true
cause.