The story is set against the backdrop of the carnage of World War I. Some of the themes associated with the story are also associated with themes from the war. The dangers of attempting to make others over in one's own image, the brotherhood of all mankind, and the waste of life resulting from a lack of love and compassion are all ideas that can be applied to both the story and events of the war. As the story progresses, Doodle becomes symbolically identified with a rare and beautiful scarlet ibis which, finding itself in a hostile environment, dies. The ibis's story mirrors Doodle's fate and the fate of American soldiers and other nations who died in the war, far away from their own countries.