Skip to main content

In The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, what sin does the brother believe is responsible for his actions?

The early Christian philosopher St. Augustine once said, "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men angels." Pride is also considered to be one of the seven deadly sins and this is probably what the narrator meant when he admitted that he displayed pridefulness toward his brother Doodle, although the word "sin" is never used. The narrator's pride will not allow him to admit that his brother is crippled...

The early Christian philosopher St. Augustine once said, "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men angels." Pride is also considered to be one of the seven deadly sins and this is probably what the narrator meant when he admitted that he displayed pridefulness toward his brother Doodle, although the word "sin" is never used. The narrator's pride will not allow him to admit that his brother is crippled and may never do the things which the narrator believes are important, such as running fast, swimming and boxing. The narrator, who is revealing the story in a flashback, openly admits his pride in the description of his feelings after he and Doodle show their parents that the boy can walk:






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. 



Later, this pride gets the best of the narrator when, after his plan fails to make Doodle as physically strong as other boys, he runs away from Doodle in a driving rainstorm. Once his pride and "childish spite" subside, it is too late and he finds Doodle dead from over-exhaustion and internal bleeding. While it would be a stretch to say that the narrator killed his brother (Doodle had major physical challenges), it is certainly true that he contributed to the boy's death through his misplaced pride.




Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more