To Kill a Mockingbird – I set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. TKAM follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father Atticus as they go through childhood and the trial of a black man who their father is defendin...
Chapter 10 begins with Scout still thinking about Atticus and being ashamed of him for not being like other fathers (being older, having a different job than other fathers in the town and being somewhat bookish). Personally, I disagree with Scout and don't think that there is anything wrong with Atticus being different from other fathers. In fact, I like him and his parenting style. I wonder; does Scout still get into fights over Atticus? This question is answered on the second page of chapter 10, where Scout states that she doesn't publicly fight anymore, but she doesn't mind fighting someone like Francis Hancock.
Still on the topic of Atticus, Scout asks Miss Maudie about mockingbirds, because killing them is the only thing Atticus has ever said to be a sin. "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." This makes it seem as though mockingbirds are a symbol of innocence and purity, which might tie into the theme of childhood innocence surrounding Jem and Scout. In these pages there is a simile where Miss Maudie compares Atticus to a devil in hell. She doesn't mean it in a bad way, but says it to be cheeky and friendly.
In the next passage, Jem and Scout decide to go shooting rabbits and squirrels, but find the the dog Tim Johnson acting strange and sick. They go and tell Calpurnia, and she reacts dramatically, calling Atticus telling the people on their street to stay inside because a mad dog is coming. Jem and Scout are confused as to why she is freaking out so much, and don't seem to really think that the dog is mad. This further proves the childhood innocence theme, because they aren't really taking it seriously. I also wonder; maybe, they are correct and the dog really doesn't doesn't have rabies?
There is lots of imagery describing the dog and how he moves. The author compares his shaking to a horse shedding flies. Atticus and the sheriff arrive, and Calpurnia brings Jem and Scout inside and holds them to make sure they don't put themselves in danger. This is an example of Calpurnia being a motherly/maternal figure for Jem and Scout.
They know that they need to shoot the dog, but the sheriff wants Atticus to do it instead of himself. Atticus finally agrees, and there is imagery describing his walk to that of an underwater swimmer; very slow. Atticus shoots the dog in one shot. What does the dog represent? The madness he'll have to face from taking on Tom Robinson's case? The death of the dog strongly reminds me of the book 'Old Yeller' when the dog get shot at the end. This gives me feeling of sadness and grief.
Jem is amazed and Scout is proud to have Atticus as her father. Scout wants to go and brag at school, but Jem says not too. This shows how Jem is maturing and that he understands that Attucis probably doesn't want them bragging. I wonder; will Atticus have to use a gun again later in the book? Also, why does Jem say that Atticus is a gentleman, just like him when, they both haven't done anything that I would consider gentlemanly? This is where chapter 10 leaves off.