The book To Kill a Mockingbird brings up a lot of metaphors and symbologies during the narrative that helps the readers to understand the message brought up by the story. The title of the book brings on itself the main meaning of this work and its quoted sometimes during the narrative. When Scout and his brother got air rifles, Atticus explained his point of view to Jem: Id rather you shot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know youll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit em, but remember its a sin to kill a Mockingbird. And Scout empathizes with this by saying: It was the only time I heard Atticus say that something was a sin. The mockingbird itself represents innocence because as Miss Maudie says, it doesnt destroy gardens or build nests at cornfields, it only sings. This
is characterized in many different ways throughout the book, with several situations in that innocent people are wronged in some kind of way, for example, Tom, who did not deserve to be arrested.
The mad dog scene is loaded with all of the weight of the delicate situation between Atticus and his client Tom Robbinson. When Atticus was obligated to shoot the dog, he proves himself to be a great shooter, this scene is marked on Scouts head for a very long time. Atticus makes it clear that he doesnt like and doesnt want to shoot, but he had no choice and had to do it; just like the case involving Tom, that Finch said that he would never forgive himself if he couldnt help him. Besides that, a great shooting ability is no good with an unloaded weapon, just like Atticus law abilities couldnt save Tom from a racist jury.