Saturday, September 21, 2019
Chapter 10/11: Why is it appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mockingbird? Explain. (Keira)
During chapter 10, Aticus tells Scout and Jem that they can use their rifles to shoot tin cans in the yard, but that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird because of the songs they sing for us. Atticus states “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing to make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people's gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird” (Lee 103). What he means by this is that all mockingbirds do is sing for us, they don’t do anything bad, unlike a mad dog. This statement does not only apply to their air rifles, it applies to their lives, and the lesson that Harper Lee is trying to teach is not to do anything bad to something that has not done anything bad to you.
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The difference between a mad dog and a mockingbird is that the mad dog is a danger to anybody near it, while a mockingbird is peaceful and minds it's own business. When the mad dog was approaching the neighborhood, everybody there was in danger. On the other hand, mockingbirds are peaceful and mind their own business: "... they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (Lee 103). This can apply to life as well, and is a really good lesson that Harper Lee teaches the reader.
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ReplyDeleteI both agree with Atticus that there is a difference between killing a mockingbird and a mad dog. Mockingbirds are peaceful, soothing creatures and they shouldn't be shot without a good reason. On the other hand, a mad dog is a threat to the people and things around it. The dog may need to be taken out to protect other people or living creatures. However, I disagree with Atticus when he says, "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em,"(Lee 103) I think that living creatures should only be harmed if absolutely necessary.
ReplyDeleteI agree that killing a mockingbird is a sin and that killing the dog in this case was okay. If the mad dog looking to hurt you whenever it has the chance then something needs to stop it.The text states, “I swear to god there’s a mad dog down the street a peice-he’s comin’...”this quote helps show the reason this dog was such a big danger to the neighborhood; it had rabies and could potentially bite someone. Also, I like how you realized the mockingbird quote relates to the characters lives and how it doesn't only apply to killing mockingbirds.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, killing a mad dog is acceptable because he causing harm and causing disruption. On the other hand if you were to kill a Mockingbird that is wrong, a mockingbird is peaceful and just sings there beautiful songs. As stated in the text "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy’’(Lee 93). This rule could be used in real life as well don’t go and kill a tree trying to grow it hasn’t done anything wrong. Respect things like mockingbirds if they aren't harming you don’t harm them.
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