Final answer:
The main theme of 'The Scarlet Ibis' is how pride can lead to cruelty, particularly within the complex dynamics of family relationships. The story's conflict revolves around the narrator's struggle to accept his brother's limitations, and the retrospective narration could color the story due to the narrator's foreknowledge of events.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main idea of “The Scarlet Ibis” is best summarized by option D, which states that pride can cause people to be cruel even to those they love. The narrator’s reflection on the past events could affect how he tells the story because he knows the outcome, which may alter his portrayal of the events, aligning with option C. The central conflict in “The Scarlet Ibis” stems from the narrator’s inability to accept his brother’s limitations, as indicated by option A. William Armstrong earns his nickname because he crawls backward like a doodlebug, which reflects option D. Doodle disappoints the narrator because he is not the playmate the narrator had hoped for, option A clearly states this sentiment.