How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She said he would live because he was born in a caul and cauls are made from Jesus' nightgown. (1.3)
We talk about this more in Doodle's "Character Analysis." It's definitely interesting to our discussion of transformation. Nicey tries to transform the idea that Doodle is different in a negative way into a more positive view. She sees Doodle's differences as making him special.
Quote #2
"Renaming my brother was perhaps the kindest thing I ever did for him, because nobody expects much from somebody called Doodle. (2.2)
Brother makes it his personal responsibility to transform Doodle. As we discuss in "Character Clues," renaming Doodle is the beginning of this process. The line also expresses Brother's guilt over expecting too much from Doodle.
Quote #3
Finally, one day, after many weeks of practicing, he stood alone for a few seconds. (2.14)
This is Doodle's first big moment of physical transformation. It's transformative for Brother too. He gets a taste of his own power as a teacher. Sadly, he gets caught up in the glory and doesn't see Doodle's physical limitations.
Quote #4
People in his stories all had wings and flew wherever they wanted to go. (2.21)
Doodle's stories express the pressure he feels from his physical limitations. If he could fly, he wouldn't have to struggle so hard to get around. It also lends to Brother's idea of Doodle as a kind of angelic figure.
Quote #5
For a long, long time, it seemed like forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain. (4.51)
Notice that this line is a simile. Brother doesn't say Doodle is like a scarlet ibis. That would be a metaphor. He says that Doodle is an ibis. By transforming Doodle into an ibis Brother can distance himself from the horror that his little brother is dead. If you want to know what "heresy of rain" is, go to "What's Up With the Ending?"