Question

In “the scarlet ibis,” how does the death of the scarlet ibis foreshadow the death of doodle?

Answer 1

The death of the scarlet ibis in the story The Scarlet Ibis foreshadows Doodle's death by symbolizing his fragility and showing how both are out of place, highlighted through the storm that accompanies both events.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the story The Scarlet Ibis, the death of the scarlet ibis is a powerful symbol that foreshadows the tragic demise of the character Doodle. The bird, which is exotic and not native to the area where the story takes place, is found dead in the garden by the family, much like Doodle, who is a fragile and unusual child within his family. Both the ibis and Doodle are characterized by their distinct differences from their surroundings, and their deaths are sudden and unexpected, symbolizing the delicate balance of life and the tragic consequences of being out of place. The storm that accompanies the discovery of the dead ibis mirrors the storm at the end of the story in which Doodle dies, strengthening the notion that the scarlet ibis is a symbolic reflection of Doodle's own vulnerability and mortality.

Answer 2

In "The Scarlet Ibis," the bird is compared to Doodle, the narrator's brother. Doodle was born sick, and his family thought he was not going to live long. However, Doodle does survive, even if he is a very frail and unhealthy child. Doodle tries to be like his brother, but he is incapable of it. When he dies, we see that the narrator compares his death to that of the scarlet ibis that died earlier in the story. They were both far from home, weak, and different than everyone else. They also died during a storm. The ibis is also a way for the brother to process Doodle's death and deal with his guilt.