Question

What is ironic about the way that the narrator treats Doodle?

Answer 1

Doodle (the baby) is treated in ironic way in many situations in the play "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst. For example, when he is born his mother ask for the building of a coffin for him. This is rare because no mother expects his baby dies. Since the baby does not die, the coffin is stored. Another example of irnony is that "Brother" expects Doodle to learn how to walk and talk before he could be able to do it. Brother thinks this is a way to help his little brother but in the process he pushes Doodle so hard that the young boy dies.

The big irony is that when they expected the baby dies he lived and when Doodle is forced to perform the above mentioned activities, he dies. Probably Doodle would have lived longer if everyone accepted him as he was.