How does the author structure the characterization of the narrator in "The Scarlett Ibis"?

In "The Scarlet Ibis," the narrator shares his memory of
his childhood. He shares the events that made up his life as the older brother to
Doodle, a handicapped child. The narrator is not named. Doodle calls him Brother. This
story is composed of various literary techniques, along with a plot that is driven
through characterization of the narrator:

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Its value to students of literature lies in its
rich use of such devices as foreshadowing and symbolism, its sensitive use of setting to
comment on the action, and its compassionate treatment of universal human values and
limitations, as well as its compelling, character-driven
plot.

Brother tells the
story. We learn about Brother and other characters through the descriptions of the
narrator. The story is told in first person point of view. It is based on the narrator's
reminiscence of childhood:

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The story is told as a first-person reminiscence
by Brother, who looks back from some time in his maturity to events that took place in
his childhood. Thus he is able to imbue the raw events with his reflections on the
lessons he learned from
them.

Brother shares how he
was ashamed of his handicapped brother. We learn how vulnerable Doodle is. We learn of
his amazing triumphs in the midst of his frailness. The narrator reveals his own
prejudices and the shame that follows his moments of meanness to his little
brother:

The
narrative technique of reminiscence also enables Brother to foreshadow events before
they are described in the
narrative,

Brother tells of
the scarlet ibis. He uses the bird's death to foreshadow Doodle's death. The story is
told through brother's eyes:

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That readers only observe the other characters
through Brother's eyes might suggest that their sympathies lie with him. However, many
readers will sympathize more with Doodle because of the emotional honesty of the adult
Brother.

Brother is candid.
He is brutally honest. He holds nothing back. He tells of his shameful behavior at
pushing Doodle to do more than he could comfortably or realistically do. He leaves
Doodle trailing in a rain storm. Doodle collapses and dies from overexertion. Brother
runs back to him and falls on Doodle's limp body. As brother is weeping, his heart
breaks in two. We see the narrator's anguish through his candid
reminiscing.

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The adult Brother, however, does not gloss over
his negative feelings for Doodle, and this candor increases readers' sympathy for the
younger boy, the target of those
feelings.

The author develops
the characterization of Brother through the narrator's memory. Brother tells the whole
story. He leaves nothing out. His narrative is so open and truthful. The reader can both
understand the narrator's sentiments while realizing that the narrator's shame as an
adult is still real. The reader has sympathy for Brother and
Doodle.