consider vision symbols in the opening scene of this chapter and the shooting scene. write a comment on your observtions. youmay want to consider the followings: when does atticus see well? {more in description)

Atticus does not like to shoot, he is an excellent marksman. Atticus does not brag about his strengths or talents, he simply uses them when necessary. When Atticus holds the gun, the fate of the entire community rests upon his shoulders, a role which will be discussed more in Chapter 24, where Miss Maudie points out that the town depends upon Atticus to uphold truth for them all. Atticus dislikes handling a gun because he believes it gives him an unfair advantage over all living things. However, in the name of public safety, Atticus's moral code calls for him to protect his family and neighbors and kill the dog. Again, this shows how a law, such as nature's law or even a personal law such as Atticus's avoidance of guns, must sometime be bent toward a higher aim. Atticus glasses were a symbol of his old age and his pentiant for study. It is ironic that the glasses break and he is still able to shoot the dog. Most men much yonger would not have been able to do that.