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“The Scarlet Ibis” is a short story written by James Hurst in 1960
. Set in the 1910s in the American South, this tragedy delivers a sorrowful tale from the narrator’s memory about a younger brother who died in early childhood. The story quickly became an American classic and is often republished in short story anthologies and other collections. Rich with symbols and figurative language, “The Scarlet Ibis” is a tragic story of pride, brotherly love, and cruelty.Read the full story summary, an in-depth character analysis of Brother, and explanations of important quotes in “The Scarlet Ibis.”