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To Kill A Mockingbird Dog Incident Analysis

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Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, puts across several ideas relevant to both the world of yesterday and the world of today. One of the most important themes to understand: people hesitate to take action when society partakes in racist behavior, but one must carry on in order to reform. Instead of standing up for rights, staying true to good morals, and helping neighbors, humankind often ignores issues. A lack of acknowledgement drives the problem even further. The mad dog incident and the appearance of Boo Radley illustrate this statement and include symbols for readers to learn from. In Chapter 10, a sickly-looking dog named Tim Johnson comes twitching and wobbling down Scout and Jem’s street. The children rush to inform Calpurina who proceeds to alert Atticus and the local sheriff, Heck Tate, in a panic. Then …show more content…

Jem realizes this in a previous chapter. “…I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside..(23.227).”
The events involving Tim Johnson and Boo Radley support Harper Lee’s message because in both instances, people fear to help others due to outside influences corrupting their minds. The neighbors and Boo disregard any good morals they hold just so they can keep themselves safe. The neighbors let other people take care of the problem and Boo only came out when children needed assistance. All of these examples show how careless the world becomes when racism and other disturbing cruelties takes over. It is important to be a mockingbird when no one else will take a stand. Discouragement only adds to the issue and no problems such as racism can ever be solved if one were to look at the action from a safe distance like the majority of Maycomb citizens. It takes willpower and good morals to leave your house and save the day, but all heroic mockingbirds start

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