Monday, September 24, 2018
Chapter 10/11: Why is it appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mockingbird? Explain. (Quinn)
The reason why it is ok to kill a mad dog but not a Mockingbird is because a mad dog will harm someone but a Mockingbird won't. When Jem is using his shotgun in the backyard, Atticus tells him "I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot at all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember its a sin to kill a Mockingbird"(Lee 119). The mockingbird does nothing to harm anyone and sings its heart out for everyone whos listening and does nothing else.
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I agree, I think the mockingbird also symbolizes hope and equality for blacks. When Miss Maudie says, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make up music for us to enjoy...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, 119) It's a metaphor for Atticus's trial, and something he's trying to get his kids to understand. He is defending someone who didn't do anything wrong but everyone one in their neighborhood feels the need to shoot him down, just like Jem and Scout with their air rifles. Shooting just for the pleasure of shooting and because they can.
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ReplyDeleteI agree that killing a MockingBird is a sin.The mockingbird represents goodness and peace. As Harper Lee wrote, “ Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.” (Lee 119). The mockingbird is a good bird because it brings joy to people and doesn’t cause problems. On the over hand, the mad dog is dangerous. The dog might be in pain, but it still must be killed to protect others. It is like good and evil, dangerous and innocent. The mockingbird is innocent because it is harmless and beautiful.
I agree. Mockingbirds are not hurting anyone. They just sing to show that they are happy. As Ms. Maudie says, "They(Mockingbirds) 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"(Lee 119). Even though a mad dog would hurt people, they do it without intending to, it's not their fault. The same thing would happen if there was a mad mockingbird. It would not be in control of itself and hurt people without wanting to. A regular mockingbird wouldn't hurt anyone the same as a regular dog wouldn't either. In the book, it may be okay to kill a mad dog, but what would happen if there was a mad mockingbird, too?
ReplyDeleteI’m in agreement that it is a sin to kill a Mockingbird. Mockingbirds only create beautiful music for humans to enjoy. In Mrs. Maudie’s words, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy” (Lee 119). I think that Lee uses this as a parallel to the prejudice and racism between whites and blacks at that time. The Bluejays are always hurting other birds even though they didn’t do anything but minding their own business, while Mockingbirds are simply singing their song.
ReplyDeleteI agree that killing a mocking bird is a sin and killing a mad dog is ok. Humming birds create happiness for others in the music that they create and are in no way harmful to anybody. "Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.” (Lee 119). Humming birds only give there music and take nothing in return. Mad dogs can potentially harm people and cause freight and stress to the people and dont do any good to anybody. Although the mad dog do not have any control over itself and cant do anything about their actions, to prevent anything from happening to anyone shooting a mad dog would be for self defense purposes.
ReplyDeleteI understand why it is considered "a sin" to kill a mockingbird but not a mad dog. Mockingbirds create peace with their tunes and songs. Mockingbirds do not harm people, but a mad dog can. Killing a mad dog is more forgivable, because it was out of selfdefense, but killing a mockingbird is almost unforgivable, because they help our community and would never hurt anybody. One day when Jem goes outside to shoot with his air riffle, Atticus warns him by saying, "Shoot at all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember its a sin to kill a Mockingbird"(Lee 119). This is one of the only thing that Atticus calls "a sin" according to Scout. Atticus never would shoot anything if he didn't need to.
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