The unfair Killing of the SCarlet Ibis

"The Scarlet Ibis", a short story by James Hurst, demonstrates how selfishness and greed can be used for the betterment of others. As shown in this short story, Doodle's brother's perseverance comes only from selfishness, greed and pride. In the end guilt takes over, bringing out the brother's love for Doodle, even though Doodle was the exact opposite of what his brother had wished for. "The Scarlet Ibis" is a short story about a boy and his malformed brother, named Doodle. Doodle's brother wants to have a regular brother, so he teaches Doodle how to walk, he pushes Doodle on, so he can be a regular kid. He pushes Doodle on to an extreme, and kills Doodle in the process. Doodle's brother acted out of pure selfishness, greed, and pride; nothing else.

Doodle's brother wanted a brother for the sole purpose of his entertainment, and Doodle did not fit in his brother's mold. "It was bad enough having an invalid brother", says the brother, "but having one who possibly was not all there was unbearable, so I began to make plans to kill him..." (345). This statement by Doodle's brother shows his interest in having a brother is not that of love, not that of mental companionship, but a brother that he could use for personal entertainment. Doodle's brother wanted a brother who was just like him. A brother that could take care of himself and go on adventures with his brother, a brother like Doodle was not good enough for him, thus showing his level of insensitivity and selfishness. On page 346 Doodle's brother takes Doodle up to where his casket is and makes him touch it. Doodle's brother would only do this to reiterate his control on Doodle and Doodle's actions. This control which Doodle's brother wanted, gave him enjoyment; enjoyment to boss around his brother, enjoyment to boss a crippled kid. Doodle's brother has a mean streak in him, and from that mean streak he finds enjoyment, and throughout the whole story that streak continually comes up, and in the end, Doodle's