James hursts the scarlet ibis

For the bird, see Scarlet ibis.

Short story by James Hurst

"The Scarlet Ibis" is a short story written by James Hurst.^[1] It was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in July 1960^[2] and won the "Atlantic First" award.^[3] The story has become a classic of American literature, and has been frequently republished in high school anthologies and other collections.^[4]

Plot

The narrator, who is not named but simply called "Brother", recounts the life of his younger brother, William Armstrong, nicknamed "Doodle".

Doodle is born a sickly child, who is not expected to live because of his birth defects.

James hursts the scarlet ibis

His family even has a small coffin made in anticipation of his death, and presumably chooses the robust name 'William Armstrong' because it would look good on a gravestone. Doodle survives, but for most of his childhood, he is unable to move or respond to his environment.

Brother even goes so far as planning to smother