Mrs. French's English Class

The Theme of Pride is confusing. We are supposed to take pride in the way we look and act. But, we're not supposed to be so proud that we look down at others, or refuse to do things that need to be done. Similarly, "The Scarlet Ibis" shows that it's nice to be proud of people we care about, but pride can be harmful to them if we push them into doing things that are not in their best interest. The story explores a variety of facets of pride from the perspective of Brother, a young man whose pride becomes a destructive force in his life. In his case, pride is closely linked with shame and embarrassment over his younger brother's physical limitations. This very normal emotion has tragic results, the memory of which will keep Brother on the alert for pride for the rest of his life.

Text Based Evidence of the Narrator's/Brother's excessive pride:

"I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death. "

"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."

"I should have already admitted defeat but my pride wouldn't let me."

"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."

EXCELLENT Glossary of Literary Terms