The Scarlet Ibis has many themes to it. They could be from facing reality, faith versus doubt, Family – blessing or curse, etc. I will be explaining two of the these themes based off of my opinion.
1. Being Selfish
I think one of the themes to the Scarlet Ibis is about being selfish. I believe this because in pg. 2 paragraph 3 it said “When Doodle was five years old, I was embarrassed at having a brother of that age who couldn’t walk, so I set out to teach him. We were down in Old Woman Swamp and it was spring and the sick-sweet smell of bay flowers hung everywhere like a mournful song. This meaning that he taught him for his own benefit so he wouldn’t be embarrassed
2. Family – blessing or curse
The second theme to the Scarlet Ibis. I believe it can also be this from page 1 paragraph 3 to page 2 paragraph 2 claiming”He was born when I was six and was, from the outset, a disappointment…It was bad enough having an invalid3 brother, but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable…He was a burden in many ways. The doctor had said that he mustn’t get too excited, too hot, too cold, or too tired and that he must always be treated gently.”This section claiming that the author JAMES HURST had thought his brother doodle was a curse/burden and didn’t really like or want him. Soon saying that since he didn’t know how to walk at 5 he felt embarrassed.
3. Faith vs Doubt
Lastly, faith vs doubt. I make this claim because of how he had too much faith in his plans with doodle and making him better that when they were running, knowing that he couldn’t catch up, sped up and left him behind leading to his fate. It states this on page 6, paragraph 2 through paragraph 4 saying”The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind with a wall of rain dividing us. The drops stung my face like nettles, and the wind flared the wet glistening leaves of the bordering trees. Soon I could hear his voice no more…I stopped and waited for Doodle. The sound of rain was everywhere, but the wind had died and it fell
straight down in parallel paths like ropes hanging from the sky. As I waited, I peered through the downpour, but no one came. Finally I went back and found him huddled beneath a red nightshade bush beside the road. He was sitting on the ground, his face buried in his arms, which were resting on his drawn-up knees. “Let’s go, Doodle,” I said. He didn’t answer, so I placed my hand on his forehead and lifted
his head. Limply, he fell backwards onto the earth. He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red.”
Now I ask you these three questions. What do you think are the themes? Have you ever been selfish in your life? Do you think your family is a curse or a blessing?