Answer: Like Doodle, the scarlet ibis is a fragile creature that struggles to survive in its environment.
In this story, the scarlet ibis is compared to Doodle, the narrator's brother. Doodle was born sick, and his family believe that he is unlikely to live for long. However, Doodle does survive, even if he is a very frail and unhealthy child. Doodle tries to be like his brother, but he is incapable of it. When he dies, we see that the narrator compares his death to that of the scarlet ibis that died earlier in the story. They were both far from home, weak, and different than everyone else. They also died during a storm. The ibis is also a way for the brother to process Doodle's death and deal with his guilt.
