Why does Atticus consider it a sin to kill a mockingbird but okay to kill a mad dog?

Atticus considers it a sin to kill a mockingbird but okay to kill a mad dog because of the relationship between Boo Radley and the neighborhood. When Scout and Jem, first get their shotguns Atticus says,  I’d rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (103) After, Ms. Muadie explains to Scout that a mockingbird is a peaceful, bloodless bird, she is drawing a parallel to Boo Radley’s character. Harper Lee uses Boo Radley to display a bloody monster to everyone in the town, but what Atticus says, it is almost as if he is talking about Boo Radley, a peaceful, bloodless human. As for the dog, when Jem and Scout go looking for rabbits they encounter Mr. Harry Johnson’s abnormal dog,  Tim Johnson. As soon as the kids realize that this dog is mad sick they go running to Calpurnia in terror. In Maycomb Alabama it is uncommon for a mad dog to be found in February. After the news spreads, Atticus comes immediately home with Mr. Tate, and shoots the dog in one shot. Atticus thinks it’s okay because unlike the mockingbird, who’s trying his hardest to help people by singing, a mad dog can harm another human in the neighborhood. The mad dog refers to what could be perceived as hurting someone in the neighborhood which parallels to how Boo Radley is perceived in the neighborhood. The perception of the mad man who has the potential to harm people yet in reality we learn through Boo Radley’s actions specifically when he takes the time to put the blanket on Scout, that while he might appear “mad” in reality he is very thoughtful. Is it a sin to kill a mockingbird?  Yes because the mockingbird/ Boo is not hurting anybody. A mad dog though, represents the two sided relationship between all of the neighbors and Boo. It is not his fault he has the capability to truly hurting someone in the neighborhood. Through these two chapters, Scout and Jem grow as they are taught the lesson in that people have very cut and dry views of taking another animals life by their dad, and that they survived through the incident of a mad dog.
How do you think Mr. Harry Johnson will react to his dog? Will he and Atticus be upset with each other

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  1. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2019 at 9:27 AM

    Personally having a dog I would be distraught if somebody shot my dog. Although if Mr. Harry Johnson loved his dog one can ask the question why would the dog be wandering the streets. In addition when one has a dog they have to take care of it. Mr. Johnson's dog was sick and "mad" as the children described him. This also can lead someone to ask another question whether Mr. Johnson cared for his dog or just left him in the yard. I would infer that Mr. Johnson would be upset but would not think much of it as his dog did not seem to mean much to him. But, if Mr. Johnson did love his dog or care for him I would infer that he would be very upset and sad.

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