Mahatma Gandhi once said about Christ, “A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” In the tragic story The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, Doodle is shown as the “Christ” in the story by his actions, symbolics, and character.
The symbolics Hurst uses to portray Doodle is just like that of Christ. For instance, Doodle's tragic death. “He toppled backward onto the earth. He had been bleeding from the mouth, and his neck and the front of his shirt were stained a brilliant red.” This scene in the story is just like Christ when he was crucified on the cross. He was bleeding from many places, like Doodle was when he perished. The only missing item is the halo of thorns, that was bestowed upon Christ's head. Another way of showing Doodle's symbolic ways is that he always believed in his brother. He tried and tried like his brother told him, and “by cotton-picking time Doodle was ready to show what he could do. He still wasn't able to walk far, but we could wait no longer.” Christ also always believed in his fellow mates and deciples. He kept trying and trying to make the world a better place, and eventually succeeded, like Doodle did. James Hurst does a good job showing the symbolics that Doodle portrays as a Christ-figure.
The personality of Doodle made him more like Christ. Hurst uses this characterization is an unique way. For example, Doodle never gave up. He always kept working at the task at hand. He eventually got to the point where, “There wasn't a sound as Doodle walked slowly across the room and sat down at his place at the table.” Christ also never gave up. He kept trying to succeed, and help others. He succeeded too. Doodle's way of making miracles is another proof of his Christ-like character. The doctors, and his mother and father said that he would never walk, but he succeeded. He performed a miracle. Christ performed miracles, like the resurrection. He came back from the dead, to bless others. Doodle's character clearly proves him to be a Christ-like figure.
Doodle is shown in The Scarlet Ibis as a Christ-figure by his actions, symbolics, and character. As Martin Luther once said about Christ, “You should point to the whole man Jesus and say, ''That is God.''”
