The world has many beautiful things on it, some more beautiful than others, one of those beautiful things is nature. The Scarlet Ibis, written by James Hurst, is told by Doodle the main character’s older brother. The narrator tells about Doodle’s childhood. Doodle was a delicate little boy who had to overcome many challenges in his short life, willing to do anything to be like a normal boy. In “The Scarlet Ibis,” Doodle personifies nature because of the unique characteristics he carries with him.

Doodle and the narrator have a connection to a special place, Old Woman Swamp. In the story the author says, “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 …show more content…
The author says, “At that moment the bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated, and amid much flapping and a spray of feathers, it tumbled down, bumping through the limbs of the bleeding tree and landing at our feet with a thud…Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers...he knelt down beside the ibis...Doodle remained kneeling. ‘I’m going to bury him’”(53). The author then goes onto explain what the narrator did after leaving Doodle behind in the storm, “He was sitting on the ground, his face buried in his arms, which were resting on his drawn-up knees...I placed my hand on his forehead and lifted his head. Limply, he fell backwards onto the earth...I began to weep, and the tear-blurred vision in red before me looked very familiar. ‘Doodle!’ I screamed above the pounding storm and threw my body to the earth above his. For a long, long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy rain”(54). Both of these quotes truly show how Doodle was so close knit with nature and the things in it, like the scarlet ibis. Both the scarlet ibis and Doodle died tragically, but in accordance to each other. They died because of nature; a storm. When the narrator goes back to find Doodle he is in a bloody puddle, reminding him of the scarlet