The Scarlet Ibis

by

James Hurst

Doodle’s parents Character Analysis

Also referred to as Mama and Daddy, Doodle and Brother’s parents care for their sons and work to make Doodle feel loved, but they also seem disappointed that Doodle will not be able to have the experiences of a normal boy. Like Doodle’s doctor, they initially expect Doodle’s life to be very short, and have a coffin built for their son. Doodle’s mother cries when she explains to Brother that Doodle will not be able to participate in many of the same activities that other boys engage in, but later Doodle’s father builds a go-cart for Doodle so that he can go outside with his brother. Doodle’s parents become very excited when Doodle begins to walk, highlighting their desire for him to live a more normal life. Although they only want the best for their son, their desire for him to be more like his brother only adds to the pressure that causes Doodle to push himself so hard, and eventually leads to his death.

Doodle’s parents Quotes in The Scarlet Ibis

The The Scarlet Ibis quotes below are all either spoken by Doodle’s parents or refer to Doodle’s parents. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Expectations and Disappointment Theme Icon
).
The Scarlet Ibis Quotes

They did not know that I did it for myself, that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their voices, and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother.

Related Characters: Brother (speaker), Doodle, Doodle’s parents, Aunt Nicey
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Scarlet Ibis LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Scarlet Ibis PDF

Doodle’s parents Quotes in The Scarlet Ibis

The The Scarlet Ibis quotes below are all either spoken by Doodle’s parents or refer to Doodle’s parents. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Expectations and Disappointment Theme Icon
).
The Scarlet Ibis Quotes

They did not know that I did it for myself, that pride, whose slave I was, spoke to me louder than all their voices, and that Doodle walked only because I was ashamed of having a crippled brother.

Related Characters: Brother (speaker), Doodle, Doodle’s parents, Aunt Nicey
Page Number: 23
Explanation and Analysis: