At that moment the bird began to flutter, but the wings were uncoordinated, and amid much flapping and a spray of flying feathers, it tumbled down, bumping through the limbs of the bleeding tree and landing at our feet with a thud. Its long, graceful neck jerked twice into an S, then straightened out, and the bird was still. A white veil came over the eyes and the long white beak unhinged. Its legs were crossed and its claw-like feet were delicately curved at rest. Even death did not mar its grace, for it lay on the earth like a broken vase of red flowers, and we stood around it, awed by its exotic beauty.
–“The Scarlet Ibis,”
James Hurst
Use the passage to think about the story’s central symbol.
What symbol does this passage describe?
What is the literal meaning of this symbol?
What does the symbol represent?
The symbol described in this passage is the bird, specifically the scarlet ibis.
The literal meaning of the symbol is a bird with uncoordinated wings that dies and lies on the ground.
The symbol of the scarlet ibis represents exotic beauty and grace, even in death. It serves as a metaphor for the main character, Doodle, who is physically weak and struggles to keep up with his brother. Despite his limitations, Doodle possesses a unique and delicate inner beauty that is admired by others. The bird's graceful death parallels Doodle's own death later in the story, emphasizing the tragedy of his untimely demise.
The symbol described in this passage is the bird, specifically the scarlet ibis.
The literal meaning of this symbol is a bird with uncoordinated wings that tumbles down from a bleeding tree and dies at the characters' feet. It is described as having a long, graceful neck and a long white beak.
The symbol represents both beauty and fragility. Despite its uncoordinated wings and eventual death, the bird is described as exotic and graceful, even in its lifeless state. This symbolizes the fragility of beauty and the fleeting nature of life. Just like the scarlet ibis, the characters in the story are also fragile and vulnerable, highlighting the themes of mortality and the consequences of pride.
To understand the symbol described in the passage, we can analyze the text provided by James Hurst.
The central symbol in the passage is a bird, specifically described as "a broken vase of red flowers." The literal meaning of this symbol is a bird that is dying or dead, with its wings flapping uncoordinatedly and its body falling to the ground. The description of the bird's appearance portrays it as delicate, graceful, and exotic, but also broken and lifeless.
In the context of the story, the symbol of the bird represents fragility, beauty, and the consequences of the characters' actions. The story revolves around the relationship between the two brothers, with the older brother reflecting on the events that lead to the death of his younger brother, Doodle. The bird's symbolic representation as a broken vase of red flowers highlights the tragic outcome and the impact it has on the characters. It symbolizes the loss of innocence, the fleeting nature of life, and the consequences of pushing someone beyond their limits. The bird's death serves as a reminder of the price paid for the drive to achieve perfection, ultimately questioning the importance of the goal itself.