In chapter 10, the dog of Maycomb becomes rabid. No one stands out to shoot the dog and everyone, including the sheriff, pressures Atticus to shoot it. Atticus successfully kills the dog as everyone watched. Throughout this chapter, Atticus is teaching Jem and Scout that you can only get rid of things that will directly affect you in a negative way by telling them,

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

By revealing this quote, the author Harper Lee wants to let society know not to discriminate against people if they aren’t affecting you. Our group thinks this is a pivotal message because sometimes we forget that all people are the same no matter what race. By forgetting this, we usually act on stereotypes which can affect our paradigms as well as others.

Written by: Gena