In this story, Doodle and the scarlet ibis are compared, and the ibis serves as a symbol for Doodle's experience in the world. The ibis was out of place, and misunderstood in a context that did not make sense. Moreover, it was a delicate creature that ended up in an environment that was too harsh for it. Finally, the ibis dies due to these pressures, and the event foreshadows Doodle's eventual death.
