In "The Scarlet Ibis," "Within me there is a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love" means that Brother's love for Doodle is tainted by his pride and cruelty. Brother's desire to make Doodle "normal" leads him to push Doodle beyond his physical limits, driven by embarrassment and pride rather than pure love, despite his deep affection for Doodle.

The sentence reflects Brother's complex feelings of love mixed with cruelty towards Doodle. As an older narrator, Brother looks back on his actions, acknowledging that love can carry elements of cruelty, much like how blood can harbor destruction. This duality is common in sibling relationships, where deep love coexists with teasing or meanness. Brother's reflection is tinged with regret, as he wishes he had not been cruel to Doodle, especially after his sibling's death.

The narrator teaches Doodle to walk out of fear of embarrassment when Doodle starts school. He cries when congratulated because his motivation was selfish pride, not brotherly love. The narrator's pride and cruelty are highlighted throughout the story, culminating in Doodle's tragic death. This realization of his flawed motives causes the narrator deep shame and regret.

The narrator in "The Scarlet Ibis" alludes to the fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel" by saying "It was too late, for we had both wandered too far into a net of expectations and had left no crumbs behind." This means the brothers are trapped in their expectations, much like Hansel and Gretel were lost in the woods without a trail to find their way back, symbolizing their inability to revert to a simpler, accepting relationship.

Brother is partially responsible for Doodle's death due to his actions. He pressured Doodle to row against the tide and run, knowing Doodle was weak and tired, motivated by his own embarrassment. Although Doodle's death was ultimately due to a heart condition, Brother's impatience and the physical strain he imposed likely contributed to the fatal heart attack. Brother may not be directly guilty, but his actions played a significant role in the events leading to Doodle's death.

In "The Scarlet Ibis," pride is a dual force. It negatively influences Brother to feel ashamed of Doodle's disabilities, initially motivating him to consider harming Doodle. However, pride also drives Brother to teach Doodle to walk, leading to shared achievements and growth. Positive pride inspires them to work hard and accomplish goals, yet selfish pride ultimately leads to Doodle's tragic death, illustrating its destructive potential when misguided.

In James Hurst's story "The Scarlet Ibis," the narrator may be saying that his love for his brother, Doodle, was limited at best, and that his cruelty often overwhelmed the love he may have had for Doodle. He was motivated to help his brother mostly out of embarrassment and pride.

The ibis symbolizes harmful selfish pride by paralleling Brother's treatment of Doodle. Brother's pride drives him to push Doodle beyond his limits, just as the fragile ibis cannot survive in an unsuitable environment. Although Brother's desire to make Doodle "normal" stems from pride, it ultimately leads to Doodle's death. The ibis, like Doodle, is delicate and unable to endure, underscoring how Brother's pride causes more harm than good.

Brother's relationship with Doodle illustrates the complexity and paradox of love through his conflicting emotions. Brother loves Doodle but is embarrassed by his disabilities, driving him to push Doodle to overcome them for selfish reasons. This paradox is evident when Brother feels guilty for teaching Doodle to walk out of pride, not love. Ultimately, Brother's grief at Doodle's death highlights how he took his brother for granted, emphasizing love's contradictory nature.